New owner brings a passion for food to Wooden Nickel

Sometimes, a passion or a hobby ultimately leads to a new career path. For Bryan Sundquist, that notion has become a reality.

Sundquist and his significant other, Trudy Davey have purchased the Wooden Nickel Public House & Emporium from Penny Hille. The couple plans to make a modest name change as the ownership transitions this weekend. The restaurant is destined to be known as the Wooden Nickel Pub & Eatery.

Sundquist has long enjoyed cooking and family style meals. For the past few weeks, he has been learning the current menu at the restaurant and giving careful consideration to the types of changes he plans to make to add his own culinary flair.

“Cooking has been a passion all of my life, since my childhood,” he said. “I remember great big, huge Thanksgiving dinners at my grandmothers house where there was food out all day long.”

A mechanic and machinery repair technician for most of his working life, Sundquist moved to Lind three years ago after being raised on the west side of the state.

His professional career began as a high school student when he would leave school early each year to travel to Alaska to work on fishing boats. For the past 15 years he has been employed by Genie, first in Redmond and then in Moses Lake.

He made his first excursion into the Wooden Nickel as a customer.

“I came in originally looking for a place in Ritzville with good craft beers and I walked in and loved the place,” he recalls. “My parents raised bison and the connection with the buffalo really hit home with me.”

So much so as he adjusts the décor, Sundquist wants to bring more buffalo memorabilia in, including a fully tanned hide and a mounted buffalo head.

“I found my new favorite place,” Sundquist said. “When the subject of the business being for sale came up, I realized I really had found my new favorite place, as an owner.”

After 30 years of hard physical labor, this was the perfect opportunity for Sundquist to become a small business owner and perfect something he truly loves to do — cook.

While major wholesale changes are not planned, there are some additions, such as Wings Wednesdays, where smokey barbecued chicken wings are the specialty of the day. In time, Sundquist plans to add burgers, steaks and even a barbecue selection.

With a personal passion for microbrews and craft beers, Sundquist also looks to expand upon an already solid collection of unique beverages.

Current patrons should still find their favorites, especially the pizzas.

“Hopefully they can expect excellent food they can enjoy in a family place. I will add a children’s menu,” he said.

Davey, his partner, is a full time certified nursing assistant working for East Adams Rural Hospital. She plans to have a modest presence in the restaurant, primarily supporting Sundquist in his endeavors.

For Hille, selling the restaurant is bittersweet.

“I want to thank all of my loyal patrons and encourage them to continue to support the business and its new owner,” she said. “This is a good opportunity for me to move closer to where my children live in the Portland area.

“I also want to thank my mom for all her loyal support, she is deeply appreciated.”