A Chatham couple plans to maintain and celebrate the history of one of Chatham-Kent’s oldest bars, but also create some new and interesting stories and memories.
Ki Larsen and Kellie Higgins are holding an 80’s Fright Night themed Halloween party Saturday night, with live music by the Courtney Wells Band, to mark the grand opening as owners of Rawkin’ RoyalT, formerly known as the Royal Tavern.
While the couple plan to put their own mark on the historic building that has stood in Chatham’s east end for more than century, they also want to honor the past.
One way they are doing that is keeping a mural created by previous owner Kevin Wallace that features caricatures of hundreds of customers over the years.
Higgins said on a daily basis, they see people looking at the mural trying to find themselves or someone they know.
“It’s really important to have this up on the wall as a focal point,” Larsen said.
He added Wallace has left them the photos of all the people in the mural, so if anyone comes in and finds themself in the mural, they will return the photo to them.
The couple has heard from “old-school” customers who have interesting stories. One of their favorites is about a former tenant who rented a room upstairs from the bar and how his pet monkey would go in and out of the window to steal food and other items.
The new owners plan to make the Rawkin’ Royal a really rockin’ bar with a wide range of bands regularly performing.
“We really want to be known as a music venue,” Higgins said.
This includes establishing Blues Night on Wednesdays.
“I worked at the bars for 15 years and I play in a band, so it’s always been a part of me since I started going to the (former) Aberdeen when I was 15-years-old,” Larsen said.
“I’m all about music,” he said, adding he enjoys going to local bars to check out the bands.
“We will be putting on some louder, more interesting shows with touring bands, and getting into some punk rock and heavier music.”
In fact, Larsen’s band ‘Mark My Word’ will be taking the stage on Nov. 12, along with friends from the Windsor-based band ‘Pitch Union.’
The Rawkin’ RoyalT is also focusing on satisfying the taste buds with a full menu.
Higgins said former owner Ulla Wallace has “generously passed on the recipe” for her popular chicken wings. She added they have wings on special Monday and Wednesday along with half-price appetizers all day every Tuesday and Thursday.
Overall the couple just wants to keep the “cool vibe” going the bar is known for.