MONROE - A Monroe man is set to bring new life to a lot scarred by fire, and with it, a new, but familiar home for the Apostolate to the Handicapped volleyball tournament.
In August 2007, a fire destroyed the Junction House Tavern at the corner of Wisconsin 81 and County J. The building's remains were torn down, leaving a sand volleyball court, a parking lot and stone foundation of an historic bar.
Charles Bentayou, Monroe, said he closed on the purchase of the former Junction House property June 27. He wants to have the Junction House rebuilt by next summer as another tavern.
"It's not going to change - maybe a little bit bigger, so when you play pool you don't beat your stick on the walls all the way around," he said.
Bentayou said his business would have been rebuilt by now, but he ran into zoning problems.
"I tried to buy it in January, but had to wait for zoning. It had to go through the township, the county and I think even the state," he said.
Bentayou said the property had been taxed as commercial, but had never been rezoned commercial; it had been zoned agriculture. Bentayou wasn't about to purchase it if it wasn't zoned commercial, so he could rebuild the tavern.
He also made sure he could obtain a liquor license from the township once he got it built, and went through the alcohol awareness class required for the license.
The fire not only destroyed the Junction House, it curtailed the Apostolate to the Handicapped volleyball tournament this year.
The tournament, held in June, is a major fundraiser for the Apostolate, bringing in between $10,000 and $12,000 a year for 10 years.
Ellen Marti, secretary to Monsignor Thomas Campion, director of the Apostolate, said tournament coordinators met after Christmas to discuss tents, food and portable restrooms, but by the time they got a handle on the plans, including the change of location, it was too late to schedule a tournament this year.
"Four of five months was not enough time to get going," Marti said. "And we wanted to make sure we did a good job."
Bentayou said he would certainly welcome the tournament back.
About three weeks ago, Bentayou met a girl from New Glarus who is the organizer of the tournament. He told her having the tournaments at his new establishment depends on insurance, among other things.
In the meantime, Bentayou has committed every bit of his savings to the project; there's no turning back.
"I'm an average, everyday guy like everybody else," Bentayou said. "Honestly, I'm looking at (this as) my future, an investment opportunity."
In August 2007, a fire destroyed the Junction House Tavern at the corner of Wisconsin 81 and County J. The building's remains were torn down, leaving a sand volleyball court, a parking lot and stone foundation of an historic bar.
Charles Bentayou, Monroe, said he closed on the purchase of the former Junction House property June 27. He wants to have the Junction House rebuilt by next summer as another tavern.
"It's not going to change - maybe a little bit bigger, so when you play pool you don't beat your stick on the walls all the way around," he said.
Bentayou said his business would have been rebuilt by now, but he ran into zoning problems.
"I tried to buy it in January, but had to wait for zoning. It had to go through the township, the county and I think even the state," he said.
Bentayou said the property had been taxed as commercial, but had never been rezoned commercial; it had been zoned agriculture. Bentayou wasn't about to purchase it if it wasn't zoned commercial, so he could rebuild the tavern.
He also made sure he could obtain a liquor license from the township once he got it built, and went through the alcohol awareness class required for the license.
The fire not only destroyed the Junction House, it curtailed the Apostolate to the Handicapped volleyball tournament this year.
The tournament, held in June, is a major fundraiser for the Apostolate, bringing in between $10,000 and $12,000 a year for 10 years.
Ellen Marti, secretary to Monsignor Thomas Campion, director of the Apostolate, said tournament coordinators met after Christmas to discuss tents, food and portable restrooms, but by the time they got a handle on the plans, including the change of location, it was too late to schedule a tournament this year.
"Four of five months was not enough time to get going," Marti said. "And we wanted to make sure we did a good job."
Bentayou said he would certainly welcome the tournament back.
About three weeks ago, Bentayou met a girl from New Glarus who is the organizer of the tournament. He told her having the tournaments at his new establishment depends on insurance, among other things.
In the meantime, Bentayou has committed every bit of his savings to the project; there's no turning back.
"I'm an average, everyday guy like everybody else," Bentayou said. "Honestly, I'm looking at (this as) my future, an investment opportunity."