Wilson Creek gets a restaurant after three years

WILSON CREEK — Wilson Creek Mayor Kathy Bohnet drove home after her town's Plowing Days celebration and saw a rare sight.

Twenty-five cars were parked in her town's downtown at 9:30 p.m., outside the Harvest Moon at 213 Railroad, which reopened March 23 after three years of a town without a restaurant.

"It brings people to town, it's nice just for our local people to have a place to go and eat," Bohnet said. "Then, also, we have a lot of people coming down through. It's very nice for them to stop, look around and it just supports our other businesses. It's just a part of a viable community, and it also contributes to our sales tax."

The longtime Wilson Creek tavern-restaurant is now owned by Julie Godfrey and Janese Holmes, who moved to town from the Arlington, Wash., area and Monroe, Wash., respectively, when they purchased the business in November.

"Myself, it was kind of a life change," Holmes said. "Things happened, it worked out. I grew out of that town. I was there 27 years, that was long enough."

Holmes and Godfrey have known each other between 10 and 14 years. Holmes was visiting Godfrey, who said she had something to show her.

"We came out, looked at this place and I stood behind this little bar back here and I said, 'I think we need to buy this,'" Holmes said. "So we did."

Godfrey heard from a Moses Lake-based friend the tavern was for sale, and said she was tired of being on the road as a sales representative in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

"I just wanted something new to do," she said. "I love people, I know Janese is great with people and we just work well together."

The business serves beer and wine and is not yet open to families, but Godfrey said they're working on it.

Godfrey said many people loved former owner Leon Powell's cooking and arrangements. They're trying to keep the business similar, with the exception of some changes to the decor.

"I want them to leave happy, and wanting to come back," she said.

"We want to make it a success, for sure," Holmes said. "To be our own bosses and our own owners, be our own people."

A grand opening Saturday was a success.

"I was talking to a couple of the regulars and they told me there had never ever been this many people in the tavern before, ever," Holmes said. "I'm having a great time. This is the best time of my life right now."

Harvest Moon is open Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., closed Monday, open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. until last call Friday and Saturday.

Holmes and Godfrey employ a cook in addition to themselves.

Holmes said the Wilson Creek community has been phenomenal as the business opened.

"The community wanted it back," she said. "They were needing it, wanting it. I guess they'll be a stronger community and I believe it's going to do that."

Holmes and Godfrey credit Bohnet and the rest of the Wilson Creek community with showing their support in working to reopen the business.

"Oh my gosh, there has not been one negative thing," Godfrey said. "The whole community, even from Odessa to Coulee City, has been very warm (and) welcoming."

Bohnet and the rest of the town wanted to see the restaurant, and she felt Godfrey and Holmes were putting forth a supreme effort, so she helped them.

"I just believe in being supportive to businesses," she said.

Bohnet believes the restaurant makes Wilson Creek more attractive to potential new residents.

"They just feel it's a viable place," she said.

Holmes and Godfrey hope people from all over the area make the trek to scope things out.

"It's a beautiful ride on like Harleys and people who like to travel and go places," Holmes said.

"It's worth the experience to drive out and see us," Godfrey said. "It's worth the drive out there to Wilson Creek. We're not that far away. Everyone thinks we're far and they get there and they're like, 'Oh this wasn't so bad.'"