CRIVITZ, Wis. (WFRV) – The food on the menu is rich, but the history is even richer at Rene’s Dining Room and Cocktail Bar in Crivitz as the iconic supper club changes hands, but not families.
For over six decades, the Brunette family has owned and operated Rene’s Dining Room, and that won’t change even as Rick and Renee Oastler retire on New Year’s Day while Renee’s nephew Sam Ermis takes the reins.
“He’s just ambitious, he’s looking forward to things and he’s excited about things,” Renee said. “He’s going out to the bar and introducing himself…those are the qualities of a true supper club.”
Ermis is the fourth generation of the family to own and operate the supper club, and he expressed high excitement and joy for the opportunity, which became a reality after buying the venue in September.
The supper club initially belonged to his great grandparents, and Ermis said it’s forever been a place for him and his family, dating back as far as he can remember.
“[It’s] kind of been the anchor of the family,” Ermis said. “We do a lot of things down here as a family…holiday gatherings, birthday parties and every Sunday we eat family breakfast at the bar.”
Ermis says he’s still learning the ins and outs of the industry on the fly, as he held multiple other jobs unrelated to the restaurant world; however, it’s been a huge boost to have countless family and longtime employees on his side.
While new ownership can mean big changes in some, if not most industries, Ermis says he’s holding on to the legacy that his family carried on since the supper club opened in 1961.
“I want it to be the Rene’s Diner that I grew up in. I’d come down here with my mom, sit in the bar and watch cartoons as they cleaned it,” Ermis said. “People came here for the atmosphere, for the food. and the friendly face behind the bar. I want it to stay like that.”
But there are a couple of changes, welcome ones at that—the return of the salad and soup bars. But, those crispy beloved steaks will continue to sizzle as stories and laughter ring around the building, filling everybody with a smile and an appetizing meal.
And Ermis says he wants it to remain in the family forever, hoping one day to pass it down to his kids.
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“When they found out I was going to buy the restaurant, my daughter asked if they could call it Rosie’s Diner,” Ermis said. “The name will stay the same, but I told her she could change it someday when it’s hers.”
Click here to learn more about the iconic and historic supper club.
