From schoolhouse to sports pub

Listen up, class! What do you get when you combine history, sports, beer and burgers? The answer is Ole School Sports Pub and Grill, one of the lake area’s newest restaurants.
    Originally established in 1931 as Dudley School, the building housed Dudley Mart & Restaurant for years before pals Corey Hansen and Chuck Hiltz took over in the spring, rebranding the convenience store and eatery at the intersection of Lovely Valley and Burnt Chimney roads in Wirtz.
    Hansen said the new venture started with a mutual love of chicken wings.
    “Chuck and I and some other friends started a group called Wing Nuts. We’re a group that loves wings and discovered that this place, when it was the Dudley Mart, had the best wings anywhere. So every Tuesday night for about a year we would come here for wings. Then we heard it was for sale, and Chuck and I talked about buying it and started to scheme what we would do with it.”
    Before opening, the pair gave the interior a fresh look, remodeling to create a rustic, pub-style atmosphere with exposed brick, classic red diner booths and dark wood in the main dining area, which seats 60.
    “The perception of this place before we bought it was that it was not family-friendly, and we’re trying hard to change that,” said Hansen, a father of young twins who also owns Perfect Blends, a café and coffee shop at Westlake Corner. “We want families to feel comfortable bringing kids with them.”
    Part of the plan includes projecting old black-and-white films (with the sound turned off) on a large white wall in the dining area. Later in the evening, the projector is used to show sporting events. However, those who crave more sports can always head to the pub, which is partitioned off in the back. It includes nine televisions, foosball table and darts. The pub, which has 12 beers on tap, including rotating craft varieties, offers drink specials Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
    Ole School has quickly become a popular hangout for locals, including Wirtz resident Mark Banks, who said he enjoys stopping by for a cold drink and good conversation.
    “I noticed the place when it was undergoing its transition,” said Banks. “I like being here; it’s nice to have something like this close by. The staff is great and I love coming to the bar after work.”
    Ole School’s American grill-themed menu features specialty burgers such as the Pizza Burger, Bacon Bacon Bacon Burger and the Bacon Banana Burger – all stacked with the distinctive ingredients their names suggest. Hungry customers also can feast on sandwiches, salads and homestyle chicken, steak and seafood entrees. Weekend breakfast hours mean patrons can get their fill of traditional breakfast items, including extra-large pancakes.
    Naturally, the menu also includes wings.
    “Our wings are huge; they’re like the biggest wings I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Hansen. “We offer a variety of wings sauces all created by and named after [members of] our staff, which is how we separate ourselves from other places.”
    Hansen and Hiltz also held on to two Dudley Mart traditions – the Friday night Walleye fish fry and Saturday night Prime Rib special. Also popular is the outdoor activities area for live music by local bands on the weekends, Wednesday night corn hole and Thursday night horseshoe tournaments.

Try This
Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and a roll for $10.

Messy Face Burger with onion rings, cheese and barbecue sauce served with handmade chips and a pickle spear for $8.

Strawberry Shortcake piled high with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for $3.

Want to Go?
Ole School Sports Pub and Grill

Address: 6674 Burnt Chimney Rd., Wirtz
Phone: 540.721.1635
Website: facebook.com/oleschoolsportspubandgrill
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m; Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.