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Chanhassen * 952-934-5659

Leuthner Well Company

Victoria * 952-443-2582

Laser and Electrolysis

Chanhassen 952-474-7474

Dine in Downtown Victoria * 952-443-2858

Victoria * 952-443-2022

MACKENTHUN’S Gourmet Meats

Victoria * 952-443-1841

St. Bonifacius * 952-446-1338

Holy Family Catholic High School

Victoria * 952-443-4659

by Sue Orsen

When construction occurs in downtown Victoria, people sit up and take notice, especially when they’re buckled into their seat belts, idling next to Floyd’s Bar, waiting for green at the stoplight.

Residents, neighbors, and commuters on Highway 5 through Victoria have recently witnessed the amazing and energetic construction schedule of the beautiful new grocery store, for example. Wasn’t it only yesterday that someone asked to open a bottle shop in the old Carpenter Lumber building? Wiped out last summer, that space is now a large striped parking lot next to the grocery store.

Rick and Lois Plocher watched the Fresh Seasons Market rise into our midst like a rabbit being pulled from a magician’s hat, and they had front row seats during the entire performance. The Plochers weren’t buckled into seat belts, however, nor were they passing through on Highway 5, nor were they just idling at the downtown intersection.

Rather, they were parked a few feet from the stoplight, making construction decisions of their own, buckled to the bar where they’ve been earning their keep as well as the respect of the community for one dozen years. Floyd’s Bar has windows onto the world of downtown Victoria including a direct line of sight to Fresh Seasons.

Not to be outdone or undone, but to continue investing in their successful Victoria enterprise, Rick and Lois entered this 2009 spring season with the new construction underway. Completion is anticipated for May. This latest addition to Floyd’s will include a full restaurant kitchen with a menu to both nourish and delight.

Yes, indeed, when people are idling at the stoplight and waiting for green, they sit up and take notice. They see that Downtown Victoria is not standing (or sitting) still, regardless the economy. As Lois said, “It’s a happening place.”

***

“I used to say the last thing I’ll ever do is own a bar. Now it probably will be,” laughed Rick, who was in construction for 26 years. “Construction was killing my body. Had to do something else.”

Rick built homes in Long Lake and Waconia and mainly west of Victoria. He was his own boss and that’s important to an independent minded man.

Agreed Lois, “I never wanted to own a bar either. It’s hard on relationships. That’s the nature of the bar. But now we wouldn’t want it any other way. We still like it.”

What was Lois doing before Floyd’s? “I was on the soup line,” she said, going directly to the nut of the matter. “Actually, I worked in hotel sales. Then the hotel was sold and we were all let go.”

This corner bar in Victoria was for years called Leo’s Bar, owned by Leo and Vangie Schneider. “Turn at Leo’s” was the landmark phrase for giving directions. Now it has become easy to say, “Turn at Floyd’s.”

How did they come to buy the bar? Said Rick, “ I was in here one day and Leo said he had to get out of the business, and I said I had to get out of my business. After a month Leo came up with a price. We countered and he accepted. Then we owned a bar.”

“It was October 1st, 1997,” stated Lois precisely. “We opened at 3:00 p.m. and by 7 p.m. people were hanging out the doors and windows. It was loud and fun and we couldn’t believe how many friends and relatives came out that first night to support us.”

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