Thursday, July 26, 2012
Is it Dive Bar, Benchwarmers or Sussex Place? The volleyball bar is back to its original name with a focus on shaking its rough past.
After changing its name to Dive Bar and then Benchwarmers, Sussex Place has pulled its old sign from storage after firing management in an attempt to get back to its roots. According to bar owner Ronald Stortz, former business manager Sue Powers has been fired, and a new manager, Nickolas Grass, has been hired on to run the show. Grass says it’s all about starting fresh after earning a poor reputation with police, a rebranding effort the bar has attempted to pull multiple times before. “Well, I hated the name Benchwarmers,” Grass said. “Ron is back in charge, and I’m helping him turn this place back around. We’re starting with a clean slate.” However, the Finance and Personnel Committee says they need more proof. Grass sat in front of the …
43.13364
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Benchwarmers Sports Pub & Grill
N64w22480 Main St, Sussex, WI
/articles/sussex-place-is-back-with-new-management-again
1068869
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
In an effort to change its image again, the local building that houses Dive Bar is changing its name to Benchwarmers. The staff plans to expand the list of activities while cleaning up its act.
First it was Sussex Place, then Dive Bar, and now say "hello" to Benchwarmers Sports Pub & Grill, the latest name given to the famous Sussex volleyball bar. But a name change isn't the only thing different about the bar. Ronald Stortz, the bar’s owner, and manager Sue Powers were called to appear at the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting back in January to discuss a number of run-ins with the law, prompting a slew of changes. "There was kind of a negative connotation associated with Dive Bar, and when we spoke to the village back in January, one of the things we said we'd do to ensure the bar had a more positive image was to change its name," Powers said. One thing Powers and Stortz did shortly before January's meeting was clean house…
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Benchwarmers Sports Pub & Grill
N64w22480 Main St, Sussex, WI
/articles/goodbye-dive-bar-hello-benchwarmers
1068869
/locations/6804027
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Man was driven home after causing a disturbance at Dive Bar, then police are called back to his home a short time later after he began yelling and throwing things.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Joe Petrie
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A 24-year-old Sussex man is facing charges after he began a fight with his family after getting a ride home from Dive Bar by a Waukesha County sheriff’s deputy. Jeremy R. Duell was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Friday with one count of disorderly conduct domestic abuse. If convicted, he could face up to 90 days in prison and $1,000 in fines. According to the criminal complaint: On Jan. 8, Duell was driven by the deputy to his home in the N23100 block of Homestead Court because he had been causing a disturbance while drinking at Dive Bar. However, as soon as the deputy dropped him off, Duell walked inside his home and began yelling, hitting walls and throwing items around in his bedroom. He then began to yell at family members …
43.13364
-88.19337
Benchwarmers Sports Pub & Grill
N64w22480 Main St, Sussex, WI
/articles/sussex-man-gets-ride-home-from-police-then-starts-an-argument-with-his-family
1068869
/locations/6243233
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A bad partnership is dissolved and the former Sussex Place changes again.
After a number of run-ins with the law, and the village claiming there was “some significant problems with the establishment,” owners of Dive Bar have announced some change in leadership and another name change. Ronald Stortz, the bar’s owner, and his manager Sue Powers were called to appear at the Finance and Personnel Committee Tuesday night to explain what’s happened and what they intended to do. “We had an internal problem with our limited liability corporation,” Powers explained to the committee. “The man causing the problems and police actions has been removed. Jenna Grode was involved in those police actions and has been removed. We removed him and all his hires with the exception of one girl.” Jeremy Smith, the Village …
43.13364
-88.19337
Benchwarmers Sports Pub & Grill
N64w22480 Main St, Sussex, WI
/articles/dive-bar-fires-new-hires-and-plans-another-name-change
1068869
/locations/6129389
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's been a long day at work, so treat yourself to some fun in Sussex!
Editor's Note: This story was updated on Dec. 13 with corrected specials at Sussex Bowl. Yes, it's almost the weekend. Yes, you've been working very hard. That's why Sussex Patch is celebrating Thirsty Thursday by comparing happy hour specials at local bars around the village. Happy Hour from Open–6 p.m. $2 bottle or tap domestic beers $2.50 premium beers $3 rail drinks Happy Hour from 2-7 p.m. $1 off beer and liquor $2 off select appetizers Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m. Everything but shots are either 50 cents or $1 off. Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m. $3 margaritas $2 bottles of domestic beer $2.75 rail drinks Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. 50 cents off all drinks Happy Hour from 2-6 p.m. $1 off all drinks Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m. Pull a tab out of a …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Donation covers the cost, but just where to put new signs is up for consideration.
After receiving a substantial donation from Quad/Graphics, the village is looking into buying new “Welcome to Sussex” signs for the major roads leading into Sussex. Two years ago, Quad donated $50,000 to the village for entrance signs, the only stipulation being the business’ name would need to be featured somewhere on the sign. “We think we can afford to do three signs with the money,” said Melissa Weiss, assistant to the village administrator. “They would be similar to the Village Park sign. A standard stone sign with a plaque. We were thinking they would cost $12,000-$13,000 per sign, but we haven’t gotten any quotes yet.” The next step is deciding where to put them and what the design should look like. There are “Welcome” signs on Good…
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wisconsin’s new concealed carry law goes into effect today causing some area businesses to say, “No Guns Allowed.”
Today marks the first day people can carry a concealed weapon in Wisconsin, but some Sussex businesses are putting a stop to that. Under a new village ordinance, businesses are allowed to post signs at every major entrance announcing they aren’t allowing people with a concealed weapon to enter the building. Business owners can call the police on anyone who disregards the signs. The village adopted the new ordinance on Oct. 25, giving area businesses little time to decide on whether or not they’ll post a sign. However, some Sussex retailers are already on top of the ordinance. “It scares the (expletive) out of me,” said Amanda Buskirk, manager of TailGators Sports Bar & Grill. “We will be posting a sign.” And TailGators isn’t the only …
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
After weeks of negotiations and a list of violations, Sussex Place officially becomes Dive Bar with new managers, but the same owner.
Following six weeks of difficult negotiations, Sussex Place has a new name, new managers and a cleaner slate with the village — but its well-known owner remains the same, for now. One of the only bars in the area with indoor and outdoor beach volleyball, Sussex Place now is called Dive Bar, hired on new managers, and settled a few legal issues with the village. Sussex Place owner Ronald Stortz and potential buyer Sue Powers had been discussing a change of hands, with Stortz ready to move on. The pair first addressed the Finance and Personnel Committee on Oct. 4 hoping to pull their request for a new liquor license off the agenda until they came to an official sale agreement. However, this opened up a can of worms between Stortz and John …
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N64w22480 Main St, Sussex, WI
Dive Bar
/articles/sussex-place-changes-name-but-ownership-stays-with-stortz
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Andy Ambrosius
9:18 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Right - because when you Google Map the bar's location, I think it's still next to the Pig. They never updated it. more ›