Riley's Sports Bar (formerly Weirdo's) remodeling its downtown location
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The newly renovated interior of Riley’s Sports Bar features restored floors, walls and ceiling, as well as a whole new style, according to owner Kevin Riley. Interior work is almost done. Riley hopes to have a menu ready for customers in July.
What it is: Riley's Sports Bar & Grill, 209 W. Milwaukee St., Janesville. The business opened June 3 after considerable restoration to the inside of the building at the corner of Milwaukee and Franklin streets. The business will have a strong emphasis on local sports, owner Kevin Riley said.
"We want to be contributing, and we want those people to come in here," Riley said about members of local volleyball, softball and kickball teams, among other sports.
The business goal: Over the next year, Riley and his wife, Lora, plan to remodel the outside of the building. It used to be home to Weirdo's Bar & Grill. The block is important to them, the Rileys said. Riley has owned property at 219 W. Milwaukee Street for about 12 years.
In 2008, he opened Riley's on the Green, an indoor golf course and pro shop at 219 W. Milwaukee St. That business is open during winter months.
Part of his business plan is re-investment of his money into the building and business, Riley said.
"We live here. It's important to us," Lora Riley said.
Coming up: Remodeling inside the bar is almost done. The bar boasts a new floor, walls and ceiling. It's bright and smells of fresh paint. Riley expects to launch a menu in July.
Happy hour specials are in the works. The bar's grand opening event is scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 30. Hours will be from 4 p.m. to closing time Monday through Saturday and noon to close on Sunday. The bar will open earlier when the lunch menu is ready.
What about the name: Yes, Riley is aware he is opening a bar called "Riley's" across the street from O'Riley and Conway's Irish Pub, 214 W. Milwaukee St., which Janesvillians commonly refer to as "O'Riley's" or "the Irish bar."
One liquor distributor already tried delivering an O'Riley's order to Riley's, Riley said.
Riley thought long and hard—and talked about it with his family—before he decided to stick with his name for his bar.
He is proud to own a business in downtown Janesville and wants people to know it's his, Riley said.
So far, friends he's known since elementary school have supported Riley in his business venture.
If he gave his bar a different name, "They might not know it was me," he said.
Jun 19, 2012 at 6:37 p.m.
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frogger, haven't been there yet. Don't know if I can do without the old ambiance with the cans of Blatz and the all-you-can eat pig skins.
Jun 19, 2012 at 5:41 p.m.
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hope gfan likes the new set up !)
Jun 19, 2012 at 12:59 p.m.
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Frogger - He recently acquired the building.
Jun 19, 2012 at 8:49 a.m.
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Did Riley own Weirdo's before or did he buy it from them.
Good to hear.
Jun 19, 2012 at 2:17 a.m.
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Good luck Kevin.
Jun 19, 2012 at 1:29 a.m.
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TroubleMaker, I agree with almost everything you've said. I think the new options downtown are making things look like they're going in the right direction again (we lost a bit with the economy after GM closed).
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As for the exterior appearance issue, there actually is a facelift grant available from the city through the federal block grant program. As to other funding and improvement options, unfortunately, the downtown property owners voted against a Business Improvement District (twice), and the downtown will pay the price for that obstructionism for years to come. The people who voted NO should be forced to sit in a pillory in downtown Beloit and look at the improvements and the traffic there.
Jun 18, 2012 at 7:51 p.m.
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I think this is really wonderful for the downtown area on the west side of the river! It's getting so there are enough nice places to eat and meet friends in that area that there can be a critical mass to draw good clientele. I've always disliked our "Chainsville" direction.
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The Armory and Speakeasy have been excellent "anchors" for years, and newer places like O'Riley's, The Blue Chair, and now Riley's really make that part of the downtown worth checking out. And let's not forget the classiness that the art store at the corner of River and Milwaukee adds (Raven's Wish but much improved)!
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I feel we are about to overcome the stigma of being near the "Fourth Ward" and only having not-so-nice bars like Quaerna's, Pinnacle/Spanky's, and Weirdo's in the area. Each of those places have been transformed into great places now. That is huge!!
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The City could not have made this happen, but now that property owners have done it, perhaps the City will do their part in funneling available Federal funds to those places to improve the exterior look. (By the way, the property owners have done this in a bad economy in spite of near-crippling taxes and water bills. Those places deserve our business.)
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