Once upon a time, Brett Wichers was a 19-year-old entrepreneur with a strong work ethic, a solid base of support, and a desire to succeed that knew no limits.
Twenty years later, Wichers is a (slightly) older entrepreneur, still possessing that same impressive work ethic and desire to succeed, and these qualities have helped Wichers establish and maintain an impressive business located in downtown Beloit.
Wichers and his wife, Lacy, own and operate Plum Creek Restaurant and Down Under Bar. The two establishments share a building; the restaurant is on the top level, while the bar is housed on the bottom level. All together the Wichers employ an impressive 32 individuals, which speaks for the large scope of the business and all it offers.
While both Brett and Lacy are now actively involved in running the businesses, the humble beginnings are owed solely to Brett, who at age 19, was on a waiting list to get into a school for telecommunications. He was working at a restaurant as a side job while taking evening classes through Cloud County.
Sort of by fate, and sort of by chance, Brett took over ownership of the business with a $2,000 loan from his father for the next truck- much to his mother’s chagrin. Brett explains that on a Wednesday, the then-owner “walked in and that Brett could take over the lease, equipment rentals, and business and he would walk away, or he was closing Plum Creek and Brett would not have a job come Saturday.” Brett adds with a chuckle, “I got the keys and a ‘good luck’, and he walked out.” On June 20th, 2002, Brett became the newest, and by far the youngest, owner of Plum Creek Meats.
When Brett first took over the business it was primarily a deli, open only at lunchtime and serving lunch specials and sandwiches. The bar and ballroom were not yet part of the package. Brett operated under this model for a short time but had a desire to expand various parts of the business. Gradually, over the course of several years, Brett modified the business; opening in evenings, adding to the menu, and adding more seating. He operated at this site for eight years.
The early days were trying, and many challenges were faced. The kitchen was so small that the wood burning grill would not even fit inside; instead, Wichers had to cook outside. “Hot summer day; outside cooking in front of the grill. Cold Kansas blizzard weather; outside cooking by the grill. From shorts to snow suits, the show went on regardless,” said Brett.
Additionally, a system had to be developed for when a customer would order a steak: two knocks on the door let the outside cook know there was a new ticket. When the steak was done, the outside cook would knock twice to let the inside cook know it was ready.
This system of operation lasted for about a year, until a remodel made the kitchen three times the size of the original.
Furthermore, Brett would smoke meat all night long to avoid making the dining room too smoky during business hours. This meant he had to spend many nights sleeping in the booths of the restaurant, waking every few hours to check on the meat.
Despite these obstacles that would make some throw in the towel, Brett persevered.
He found a great support system in the community of Beloit as he was trying to get his feet set in the business world. “At the beginning, the community was very supportive. I don’t think any 19 year old would have success in a larger city as I did in Beloit,” said Brett, citing community support as one of the main reasons for his early success.
Eventually, the business outgrew the building. In December of 2009, Brett purchased the entire building at 121 W. Court Street, the current location of Plum Creek Restaurant. The downstairs which is now “The Down Under” and “The Ballroom”, were formerly known as Captain’s Quarters, a local bar and wedding venue for over a decade.
Another individual who has played a huge role in past success as well as current success of the operation is Amy Stocker. General manager for 19 years, Stocker has been with Brett since nearly the beginning. “Poor Amy has had to manage him, mom him, scold him, and make sure he got things done,” joked Lacy. Stocker has held many jobs in the establishment, including cooking, prepping, and baking, and maybe the most important part; keeping Brett in line and organized.
Lacy, who frequented the restaurant when she was in nursing school, caught Brett’s eye as she was dining at Plum Creek. That’s a story all in itself, but the Wichers have now been married for seven years and Lacy’s role in leadership of the business has continued to steadily increase. In fact, she recently took a hiatus from her job as an ER nurse to help out more at the restaurant as it continues to grow and expand.
Visitors to Plum Creek will find modern décor, huge, vaulted ceilings, and a laid back atmosphere. “Really good food, and a super friendly staff. Our steaks are cut in-house, our burgers are pattied in-house- almost everything is made in-house… it’s downhome, but not café style. It’s more of an upscale downhome meal,” explained Brett.
The Wichers are proud to serve a wide variety of customers and be a versatile spot with a vibe all its own, whether you’re finishing up a long work day or going out for date night. “Everyone’s welcome, and you can come as you are. You’re going to get phenomenal food and great service…not fancy but phenomenal,” stated Lacy.
As previously stated, the top level of the building is called Plum Creek Restaurant, but the couple also owns the bar on the lower level of the building, called the Down Under Bar. Additionally, they own an adjoining 5,000 square foot foot ballroom which is used to host parties, events, receptions, and other various get-togethers. There are two separate entrances, but the two spaces can be accessed from within one another, as well. The kitchen serves the same menu to both the restaurant and the bar. Plum Creek even does catering.
The ballroom was fully renovated right before Covid, giving them a modern feel and clean look. Lacy explains the renovation as a “five week, 5,000 square foot project”, where she and Brett completely gutted and redid the entire inside of the building, including the paint, walls, carpet, installation of a wheelchair accessible ramp, and re-doing all the floors.
This was an exciting change to the space, and the Wichers were overjoyed to begin hosting events in the ballroom. Unfortunately, after hosting just one wedding reception, COVID hit and closed the space for a year.
COVID was a tough time, but Brett cannot say enough good things about the community support that pulled through to keep the establishment open, thanks in part to the “Mitchell County Strong” movement. “The community really helped us to keep the wheels turning when COVID hit,” said Lacy. “We tried really hard to keep people employed. It was challenging but the community was really supportive…they helped us keep the wheels on the track to get through.”
Now that the business is fully reopened, it is an exciting time for all aspects of the business.
The ballroom space is so popular that it is already booking into 2024. The Down Under Bar is the place to be, hosting live music most Friday nights and offering a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Additionally, there is a fun New Years Eve event planned at the bar, complete with a mechanical bull, live band, games, champagne at midnight, and biscuits and gravy after midnight. The night before Thanksgiving, they will be hosting a game night, held in the ballroom featuring different outdoor games. This is a 21+ event. During the warmer seasons, there is a patio with life-size Jenga and bag toss for the warmer days.
Though Plum Creek has been constantly evolving since 19-year old Brett took the helm, the consistent piece has been the drive to serve the community with quality and consistency, and to maintain a welcome place for many types of people, events, and celebrations.
Plum Creek celebrated its 20th anniversary in June with a street dance. The Wichers are incredibly happy with how the street dance went, and incredibly proud of how their businesses are flourishing. With their determination, the spot is sure to be around for another 20+ years.
Lacy states, “We appreciate the ability to be able to serve a community that has kept us in business and helped us grow for 20 years. We feel what we do is very versatile and over the years has allowed us the opportunity to not only feed people, but celebrate birthdays, weddings, family and business gatherings, and even in times of loss in the community…twenty years of business has not come without a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, but also a community that loves and takes care of one another. We strive to maintain our humble roots while continuing to challenge ourselves, keep things fresh, at a fair price, and interesting.”
Head on down to Beloit to see for yourself what all they have to offer. Be sure to follow Plum Creek Restaurant and Down Under Bar on Facebook for the latest in food, fun, and live music!
