By Tom MIller - October 24th 2023
JANESVILLE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Benny Useni would drive past the For Sale sign posted on the Johnson Bank property at 1309 Wright Road on the east side of Janesville.
Useni, the owner of the Whiskey Ranch bar and restaurants in downtown Janesville and on U.S. Highway 14 near Delavan, couldn’t resist inquiring about the property. He lives just down the road.
“Me being me, I had to call and see what it was all about; what they were asking,” Useni said in an interview this week. “Before you know it, I’m in the negotiating stages with my realtor, and we struck a deal.”
Approximately two years later, Useni is within two weeks of opening the new bar.
Useni — along with his son, Lani, friend Bekim Lumani and his son, Doni — will oversee the new bar’s operations. About all that is left of the former bank is the vault, which has been downsized and will serve as the walk-in cooler.
“We knew from day one that we weren’t going to mess with the vault,” Useni said.
Useni used all local companies to complete the renovation, which took about eight months. Useni said he wants Lucky’s Saloon to be a place for friends to gather, have fun and watch sporting events on the various TV screens set up around the 24-seat bar and six tables.
The menu will be simple with pizza, tacos and submarine sandwiches as the main items. It will not be as extensive as Useni’s Whiskey Ranch menus.
“We did not want to step on Whiskey Ranch’s toes,” Useni said. “(The downtown location) has been there for nine years now. This will be mainly a bar where people can watch sports and gather with friends.”
Useni began taking work applications this week. He plans to hire a staff of 15. The standard hours will be 10 a.m. to bar time with food available until 9 or 10 p.m.
There are 34 parking stalls for vehicles.
While his new place has been in the works for nearly two years, Useni has maintained a simple business plan.