Tim Barr takes over Art’s Tavern!

By Norm Wheeler
Sun editor

When Tim Barr moved to Empire in 1964 as a 7th grader, he never could have imagined that he would one day own a bar/restaurant in downtown Glen Arbor. Tim’s father Jim was the superintendent of Glen Lake Schools, and Tim graduated in 1970. He then worked for the Village of Empire, he sailed as a merchant marine on a lower laker hauling cement up and down Lake Michigan, he was a janitor at the air base in Empire, and he worked for Ron Fisher Construction when the town hall was remodeled. He has also sold firewood on and off for the past 15 years. But how does this all lead to owning Art’s Tavern?
“I originally got into this business because I was having too much fun on this side of the bar, and I decided I had to somehow keep my money in my pocket,” Tim recalls with a smile. “So I moved behind the bar, and I’ve been there ever since.” Over the past few years Tim has been looking for a way to “have something to retire with,” and buying Art’s Tavern from the Weisen family certainly fulfills that dream.
“I started working at the Friendly Tavern in Empire back in 1975 when the menu was still on the wall,” Tim remembers. Weisen Enterprises still owns both the Friendly and the Village Inn, and they built both Lakeshore Motels in Glen Arbor and Empire before selling them. In April of 1986 they asked Tim to do inventory for them at Art’s, and he has been there ever since. “I was never officially manager of Art’s, but gradually I just assumed that position,” Tim says. When the Weisen family expressed an interest in selling Art’s last fall, Tim started serious talks with them in November, and they agreed on a price around Easter of 2000. The official closing of the deal and Tim’s takeover occurred on July 17, 2000.
In order to make the deal Tim formed Medusa’s Sharkpaw Operating Company, but he says “the name Art’s Tavern will not change, though maybe someday it could be Art’s BARR!” Tim plans to continue the tradition of Art’s Tavern being the local melting pot of Glen Arbor where people find great food and good conversation, discover what’s going on around town, and feel comfortable whether they are 2 years old or 80 years old. Art’s employs 12 people year-round (“The very best people in the business,” Tim assures), and up to 25 people full and part-time during the busy summer. He especially wants to thank those who made the purchase possible. “The assistance from those who helped me obtain the liquor license and jump through all the hoops is tremendously appreciated,” Tim says, “and they know who they are!” So next time you stop by Art’s Tavern, greet and congratulate the new owner, Tim Barr!