Hometown Bar & Grill Readies for Opening In Paullina


by Mari Radtke
It’s a family affair and a final wish of the patriarch, the Late Mark Myers. Kim Myers purchased the former Junior’s Bar and Grill. She said, “It was what Mark wanted. He had it in his head I could do it.” Kim isn’t alone, though. She is getting help from her kids plus. Joining Kim in the family business are daughters Britney Fortune and Alie Myers, and son Andrew Myers with Alexus Babb joining.
They come together with a variety of food service experience – cooking, waiting tables, there’s always cleanup. Kim said the one thing she doesn’t (yet) know how to do is make a mixed drink. That’s not going to be a tough thing to learn.
Licenses applications have been submitted. The City of Paullina approved the liquor license on Monday January 20. Two more are expected to be approved by the state in the approaching weeks, including the package and wholesale licenses.
Hometown Bar and Grill has passed its fire inspection. The inspections from the insurance company and the health department are scheduled. A new outside sign is ordered. They are just waiting for installation. Maybe a day above freezing?
Furniture and features within the coming bar and grill won’t change a lot. The kitchen and dish room won’t move, the booths and tables will stay where they are. The pool table will stay in the same place and hanging dart boards are expected to be added as an extra draw.

As “The Hawkeye,” or “Junior’s” the bar has always served Paullina well, as a place to pass the time, meet with friends or hold gatherings for special occasions. When a kitchen was put in the lunch hour flourished. And night time food choices only enhanced the evenings there. The plan is to return the homemade lunchtime specials. Ingredients for a variety of delicious, quick-to-serve and affordable comfort food items have already made it to the shopping list with food vendors. And they will be topped off with homemade dessert. Menu items will be usual Midwest fare – burgers and sandwiches, soup, salads (and a salad bar) and they will bring in a wraps. A kids menu is required. A featured item for the kids menu, but also available for everyone is pizza. Made to order and cooked fresh with fresh ingredients.
Weekends are not about to be taken for granted. They have a selection of standard, but hard-to-find items planned for weekend meals. The weekend will be capped off with a Sunday buffet featuring mimosas. It sounds like there might be some creativity that goes with a traditional mimosa!
Since homemade is the choice for daily specials, the restaurant will be open for the coffee drinkers. And if they happen to want a simple breakfast, that can happen, too.
The opening date is not yet set with inspection and licensing still being unknown, but they have set their hours – open 7 days a week. Sunday through Thursday is 8:00am – 10:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 8:00am until 2:00am. Kitchen. Closed at 8:00pm Sunday – Thursday and at 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
We’ll keep you posted on their opening and hopefully there will be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the first of Paullina’s six business closures during 2024 to reopen in 2025.