By Adam Hocking

Editor

ROZELLVILLE — Tom Seubert, his wife Ann, and Tom’s parents took over the Buck-A-Neer Supper Club in Rozellville on March 1, 1973. From that time until very recently, the Buck-A-Neer has been Seubert-owned and -operated.

“I kind of got married into it,” Ann joked. Tom’s brother, Roy, worked as a bartender for the restaurant, eventually meeting a young woman named Jean, whom he would marry. When Roy and Tom’s parents retired, Roy and Jean took over their ownership stake in the Buck-A-Neer.

Together, Ann and Tom and Roy and Jean have overseen the restaurant for the past 16 years. When asked what made the establishment so popular over the years, Roy had a simple answer, “Family.”

“I think it was the friendly staff and atmosphere. I mean a lot of our waitresses knew our customers by name. … Just the setting, to try to keep it family oriented (was our goal),” Jean added.

Over time the Buck-A-Neer became not only a place locals looked forward to patronizing for a Friday fish fry but also a place where families celebrated birthdays, graduations, and special milestones in their lives. In that way the restaurant became part of the fabric of the community.

“When the door opens up, families walk in,” Roy said.

Roy and Jean and Tom and Ann lived above the restaurant while they ran it, so for the Seuberts, the difference between being at work and being at home was a flight of stairs. The interwoven home and work life contributed to the family atmosphere the restaurant exuded.

“It wasn’t like work because you were among your family,” Ann said. The Buck-A-Neer saw generations of not only customers but workers come through its doors.

“Some of our workers’ grandchildren were now working for us,” Jean said.

Beyond creating a family atmosphere, the philosophy of the Seuberts was simple. They wanted to serve quality, fairly priced food that left no one going home hungry. In addition to being a part-owner, Tom was the chef at the Buck-A-Neer for as long as the Seuberts owned it.

After four decades for Tom and Ann and 16 years for Roy and Jean, they said it simply felt like it was time to enjoy their next phase of life.

“It was time. Tom’s been here since he’s been 19 years old, and it’s time to enjoy the grandchildren, family, and that’s his comment, and that’s our comment,” Roy said.

The Seuberts said the restaurant had been for sale for about five years, and without an offer they were planning to close. Then they received a call that an interested party had purchased the business.

On July 9 it was announced via the restaurant’s Facebook page that the new owners would be Dave and Judy Jasurda and Gavin Love and Elizabeth Jasurda-Love. In that post the new owners said, “The menu will be 90 percent the same, including nightly specials. However, the ambience and theme will be updated and modernized.”

When asked what advice she would give the new owners, Jean said, “Treat your customers the way you want to be treated — like family. Give them a hardy meal for a decent price, and be friendly. In this area that’s what it takes.”