Ian Jordan stands behind the bar he now owns in Winnebago. Gunners Bar opened in early January after Ian bought former -Buzz Stop Bar.
When the owners of Buzz Stop Bar to Winnebago, Amanda Johnson and Gary “Buzz” Osborn, decided that they were ready to sell their grass, they did not have to look too far to find a new owner.
“I had been interested in owning a bar for some time and I was informed by Amanda and Buzz that if they were ever interested in selling that I would probably be interested in buying the ribbon from them,” Ian Jordan says.
Dreamrra and Ian to own a bar began to take shape during the summer of 2024 when Amanda and Buzz began talking about leaving the bar business.
“We talked about this for about five months and I officially got the ownership of Bari on January 1 this year,” Ian comments. “And I renamed it gunners.”
Despite what some people think, Gunner is not the nickname of Ian.
“Bar is actually named after the first dog I ever had when I was a kid,” Ian shows. “That dog meant a lot to me and I liked the idea to name the ribbon after my dog.”
Ian explains that before taking on the ownership of the bar, he had worked for the Martin District Highway Department.
“But keeping a bar is something I have always wanted to do,” Ian notes. “I have known all the earlier owners of the bars who had settled here and my interest in wanting to own and operate a bar returns many years.”
Ian does almost all work on his own.
“My weekend. To say, it’s actually Monday and Tuesday when the bar is closed,” Ian says. “I’m busy in the bar on Wednesday until Sunday.”
It is when Ian asked why he wanted to become the owner of the grass that his eyes and the smile really light.
“I like people and what I really want to offer to customers stopping at gunners is a place to join and enjoy each other’s company,” Ian shares. “Good for people to sit down, rest and just let go of some time. This is the experience that I want people to have when they stop here.”
One advantage that Ian felt he had buying Buzz Stop Bar was that she had set herself as a good bar that did a good business.
“That was almost as close as possible to a turn of the turn as much as you can get,” Ian comments. “I really didn’t have to change so much. Amanda and Buzz had a good business and I want to continue what they were doing.”
One thing he has changed is to give the establishment more of a ‘nature’ feeling.
“This is something I am passionate about,” Ian notes. “I like to shoot, fish and do for anything else that involves external external taste.”
In accordance with his love for the outside, the gunners now display the mounted deer heads, the head of a wild boar and other similar items to give her the ‘out’ feeling.
Being closed on Monday and Tuesday enables Ian to enjoy his passion and he takes advantage of the time by going fishing or shooting whenever possible and being able to spend time with his wife, Ashley.
“Ashley and I live in rural Winnebago, so I’m not out of work,” Ian says. “But I’m also quite close to places where I can enjoy some fishing or hunt when I have free time.”
There are some things that Ian has in mind for Gunners now that he has been the owner for nearly two months.
“I plan to have a dwarf and trivia bar once a month,” He shares. “We also want to show live music – whether from a band or a DJ – occasionally.”
And the gunners still offer grass food like previous owners, so people who stop can order pizza, bread sticks, harness and nachos to fill their hunger needs.
Ian, who is originally from Winnebago, says he is really grateful to regular customers who attend his grass.
“They definitely make up most of the people who stop here,” He notes. “But with our location on the 169 highway, we also get a lot of people stopping at those who are passing through the city. There is a suitable place to stop.”
Whether it’s a regular client or someone who has been on the road and just stopped for rest, Ian hopes everyone enjoys the gunners.
“I have always liked to be able to offer people a way to spend a good time,” Ian ends. “I like my customers and I want them to know they are appreciated.”
Gunners are located on Main Street in Winnebago. Open Open Wednesday and Thursday from 3-10 in the afternoon, Friday 3rd to 1st in the morning, Saturday from 1 afternoon to 1am and Sunday from 3-10 afternoon