November 29, 2017 at 4:51 p.m.
Worthen's: The next generation
St. Germain bar latest in a long family business line
Worthen's: The next generation
By By Evan J. Pretzer-
Since October, the 42-year-old former Minocqua resident has been running what once was known as Shocker's Bar & Grill.
Rebranded under her family name, the economic enterprise has two bartenders, three cooks and is another community-serving venture from this entrepreneurial family which has been living in the Northwoods since the '70s.
Amy Worthen, along with her father Dave and aunt Kathy Worthen-McCaughn, discussed earlier this month the latest family project, past times and what they love about catering to the public and working in consumption businesses.
As the trio tells it, working with the local community is in their blood.
Initially from the Chicago area, the Worthen family laid its foundation in northern Wisconsin in 1975 when grandparents Wayne and Gerri Worthen moved to the region and took over the Murmuring Waters Resort in St. Germain.
Tired of life in the city, the pair bought the 15-cabin site to do something new and keep their family from disintegrating.
"I believe my mom and dad came here to keep the family together," Dave Worthen said. "When they got the resort, it was a lot of work, but we all helped make it a real success."
Though the years were kind to the resort, the Worthen family got out of the game at the dawn of the Reagan administration in the '80s. Initially, Wayne and Gerri Worthen - being tired from running a place by themselves - didn't intend to take on another difficult venture. But, as is often the case, life had other plans, according to Amy Worthen.
"In 1981 they purchased Sayner Pub," she said. "When this happened, as we all enjoyed working together before, we all quit our jobs, wherever we were living, moved back up here and started once again as a family business and went on for a long time."
Until the 2000s, the Worthens worked together at their business in Sayner and an additionally purchased bar in St. Germain.
Gerri, Wayne, uncle Keith and aunt Kathy owned one facility, while Dave and his wife Cindy owned the latter.
Once more, the group bonded.
Through hectic Friday nights in Sayner and breakneck business at the pub in St. Germain, this Illinois originating family embraced the community, and, like many a successful business before them in America and Wisconsin, the locals embraced them back.
"I think why we were so successful at these businesses which we built into what they are today is part of the brand is our family," Kathy Worthen-McCaughn said. "Whenever you come into a Worthen business, you'd always see one of us and get good service."
In their latest venture, Amy Worthen aims to continue this theme and carry forward other parts of projects past, mainly a focus on great food prepared to deeply high standards.
Right now, the newest Worthen's bar prepares fresh and never frozen hamburgers and is in the process of bringing back the family's famous pizzas for residents to purchase, though these will take some time to get right for Amy Worthen to sell them.
"I'm never going to send one pizza out which isn't absolutely perfect," she said. "People love it and we are not going to half-ass them. Never have and never will we ever do so."
When the decorating is done, the food is perfected and the pace begins to shift into something less frantic, Amy Worthen looks forward to taking some time to relax, though, even when its calmer, she still intends to live up to her family's history.
"I absolutely feel pressure to succeed," Amy Worthen said. "But as long as we've got the support from the community and great product, I don't think I'll be worrying at all."
For more information on the latest Worthen venture, find them on Facebook at "Worthen's Bar & Grill."
Evan J. Pretzer may be reached via email at [email protected].
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