BY TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
PLAINVILLE — Meet the couple transforming a local eatery into an exclusive bar and grill experience in Plainville.
The Handle-Bar Tavern and Eatery, 105 E. Mill St., will be in the former Burgers & Beer location.
Vincent and Bee Reif have worked in various restaurants nationwide, initially crossing paths at a resort in Denali, Alaska, in 2007.
Vincent began his culinary career as a prep cook and gradually ascended to roles as an executive chef and manager.
Bee worked alongside Vincent at multiple restaurants, where she held management positions and worked as a bartender.
In 2011, the pair moved to Kansas, where they worked at a private lodge in southeast Kansas before purchasing the location formerly owned by Burgers & Beer.
“We relocated back here [Plainville] in 2019, and we've seen that we're kind of limited in the number of restaurants and options,” Vincent said. “However, the opportunity became available, and we decided it was meant to be.”
Vincent was born in Plainville, and Bee is originally from Alaska.
Roughly four months ago, the couple purchased the building with the aspiration of showing their extensive experience and introducing something fresh to the local area.
“We want to go above and beyond, providing great and quick service where you come in and get your high-quality meal in a timely manner,” Vincent said. “A family atmosphere where you come in here and you feel like you’re family.”
The Handle-Bar revolves around maintaining the bar area as a distinct environment while creating a more family-oriented setting in the rest of the restaurant.
Their expected time to open will be in mid-November.
The menu was a challenge for the couple as they wanted to include something for everyone's tastes and preferences.
“We don’t just want to cater to one person, we want a collective group of people to walk through our doors at any given time and be able to find something and enjoy it,” Bee said.
Among the diverse menu items, Vincent emphasized the steak, and its unique aging process.
“What I’m really excited about is the steak portion because we already brought those in and started aging them weeks ago,” he said. “The longer they continue to age, the more they continue to break down and become more tender and flavourful.”
Other offerings on the menu include cajun shrimp pasta, fresh salmon, chicken wings and steak 'n’ bacon burger.
The restaurant features a spacious outdoor patio for up to a hundred people, offering activities such as bean bag toss and live televised sports games.
“If you're from Kansas, you realize there's a good chance in November up through mid-December that we're going to have warm enough days where you may want to sit outside and enjoy your meal,” Vincent said.
Vincent will handle kitchen operations, while Bee will manage the day-to-day tasks in the front of the restaurant with a team she said wants to be involved.
“We have a pretty solid staff put together that we feel are teachable, trainable and that want to be in this industry. They have a great opportunity to learn and grow so we’re hoping to build upon that,” Bee said.
The Handle-Bar implements a loyalty program that customers can sign up for on their website. Members of the reward system earn one point for every $1.75 spent and receive a $7.50 discount for every 75 points redeemed, which can benefit them towards their next meal.
“We want to give back. If you’re a customer who’s in here on a regular basis. We want to be able to reward you,” Vincent said.
Vincent and Bee are thankful for their friends, family and community who’ve helped them establish their own restaurant.
You can follow The Handle-Bar Tavern and Eatery on Facebook.