Evart Main Street is at 6th and Main Bar & Grill

We had owned a restaurant and bar in Clare for 15 years and sold that in 2015. I didn't think we would get back into this business, but Evart didn't really have a restaurant where you could get a drink and a burger—you had to travel 30 miles to do that.

My husband and son kept saying we should do it and I kept saying no. And then they said, ‘Well, let's just go look at this building’ because they knew I would love it and enjoy fixing it up.

We bought this building in November of 2017 and then opened Sixth & Main Bar and Grill in October of 2018.

This is one of the oldest buildings in town, built in 1883, and it was in really bad shape when we bought it. A lot of pipes had frozen and busted. The old boiler system was in rough shape. The floors were covered with subflooring and carpet. But the fireplace is original to the building. The stone porch is another huge feature and in great condition—whoever did that was immensely talented.

We had 15 years’ experience before opening this and built a reputation for serving good food. Food is a big thing for us. We have a lot of different things on the menu, so you know we are definitely not just a bar, but more of a restaurant that serves alcohol.

I knew this building had enough character that it would attract people, but mostly I knew that there was a niche Sixth & Main could fill because there was nothing in Evart like it. I grew up here, so I knew the community and the potential that was here. Evart hadn't had anything like this in a while where you could sit down, especially with larger groups of people. We’ve accommodated 30-40 people without a reservation and there's really not any place else you could do that.

I love Evart—the people and the location. Other than my senior year in high school, I actually spent my entire life in this area. The community is a nice size—it's not so big that you get lost in the crowd. I think Evart has a lot of potential for growth.

—Deborah Knowles, Owner of Sixth and Main, Evart

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