Lesson learned: Make “community” a major part of your business plan.

Story by Courtney Ferguson

Co-founders Beth Moore and David Kuczora called themselves ringmasters. “That’s because coordinating the three aspects of the Wild Eye Pub – restaurant, saloon and event venue – can be like managing a three-ring circus,” Moore laughs. The popular Grass Valley establishment had been open for 20 months when COVID-19 changed their trajectory. Like most new-business owners, they already were pretty nimble with making quick changes. That agility served them well. 

Whether it meant to-go-only meals, serving outside, or limited indoor seating, they followed the ever-evolving health protocols, always keeping the safety of customers, performers and staff top priority. They tracked those rules for more than two years – a decision many customers and entertainers deeply appreciated. But, sales still fell 75 percent.

“We had 100 live gigs booked when lockdown hit,” Moore explains, “but we did not cancel them. Instead, livestreaming became a welcome option – complete with virtual tips from fans   enjoying the music broadcasts from home. Some of our artists actually earned more this way, and it helped them through a bleak time.”  Wild Eye is also known for serving homemade meals, using fresh meat and produce from local farms. Scratch meals require extra time to prepare, which means more staff. “When it was take-out only,” Moore recalls, “we featured travel-friendly items, such as burgers, pasta dishes and our own desserts. That’s a change that still works for us today.”

Since support is a two-way street, Moore attributes much of their survival to the “generous support and love from loyal customers and the community.” 

Another innovation was creating 100 feet of dining along Wolf Creek. “We transformed part of the parking area into beautiful, outside dining, complete with overhead terrazzo lights, extra seating and a stage area. Used furniture, borrowed umbrellas and flowers make it a magical place from May through September, as well as warm winter afternoons.”

One challenge was the crumbling, decades-old paving that needed to be repaired. COVID grants helped address this issue, and the result is that, today – with nearly 1,000 events since they opened in 2018 – Wild Eye has more to offer and enjoy than ever.

Beat the odds with thorough planning and loyalty-based marketing

Story by Courtney Ferguson

The restaurant business was one of the hardest-hit during the pandemic. Even in the best of times, an estimated 80 percent of restaurants close before their fifth anniversary. In 2020, the lock-downs of COVID-19’s first year caused an additional 73,000 American eateries to fail, according to a report published by the Washington Post and based on a review of data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Wild Eye Pub owners Beth Moore and David Kuczora survived both gauntlets. How?

Before opening the Grass Valley pub in 2018, they researched five-year projections of industry trends for restaurants, taverns, event venues and lodging to make sure their plan was realistic.

They studied local business patterns from the Nevada County Economic Resource Council, as well as local farming trends from Sierra Harvest.

They found detailed planning templates from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other resources. They incorporated their research into a convincing business plan that received approval for a loan from their community credit union, in partnership with the SBA. 

 Moore and Kuczora have played active roles in their community for many years and have a reputation for paying their employees fairly, sourcing from local farmers and supporting musicians with a nightly performance venue.

Through frequent newsletters, they express heartfelt thanks to their loyal customers who buy take-out food, gift cards and make donations, keeping relationships strong and active. But 2023 dawned with continued challenges, and the couple announced the Wild Eye was at risk of closing. They turned to the community through a GoFundMe plea to raise $162,000 to pay debts, repair the circa-1851 building and buy new kitchen equipment. As of late January, admirers had contributed more than $22,000. The enthusiastic response from the Wild Eye’s community confirms that two-way loyalty helps generate success.

The Wild Eye Pub
535 Mill St.
Grass Valley
(530) 446-6668
www.WildEyePub.com