Shotgun Suzie’s opens in Emerald

By Kelsie Hoitomt

EMERALD — What was formerly known as Kuehl’s Bar in Emerald has been changed to Shotgun Suzie’s by new owners, Judi Beestman and Bill Dyer.

Beestman and Dyer officially opened the doors to their new business adventure on Saturday, May 4. Their official grand opening celebration is set for some time in the month of June.

 The bar has a whole new look with an old western, cowgirl type theme. The bar stools are cow hide, there are saloon doors that go into the kitchen and even western toilet paper holders in the bathrooms.

Judi shared that eventually they would like to add a porch out front with western benches and spittoons to give it the old saloon appearance.

Also new in the bar is the back room, which has been turned into a dining room that can seat roughly 20-30 people. Customers can now enjoy the crackle of the fireplace while eating.

Shotgun Suzie’s also has an upgraded kitchen with an entirely new exhaust system as well as a new paint job and ceiling tiles.

“I have always wanted to own my own bar business and be able to do what I want and be able to have my western theme,” shared Judi of her reason for diving into the business world.

Beestman is right at home with owning her own tavern as she has worked in the industry for 30 plus years at a variety of places and towns.

She opened Shotgun Suzie’s after leaving her job at the Pumphouse in Downing after bartending and waitressing there for five years.

As of right now, the kitchen is open with a menu of appetizers, burgers and salads. They plan to add a Surf n’ Turf and ateak items as a Saturday special and then a Friday Night Fish Fry with white fish from the Superior/Duluth area. There is also future plans of breakfast being served on Saturday and Sundays, but nothing has been set in stone as of now.