Blaine County Beacon

 

January 9, 2019

The word beacon has its origin in Old English when its meaning referred to a signal or lighthouse. Beacons were used not only by ships and later by airfields as a warning or guidance system but as a means for carrying news. A fire or light set up in a high or prominent position could also provide a sign of celebration. Since the 1600s, the word beacon has figuratively referred to a person or thing that illuminates or inspires.

Drawing from these historical meanings, once a month, the Journal will run a story in a Feature Forum called Blaine County Beacon, which will illuminate the achievements of Blaine County residents. This beacon will shine not only in celebration but as a means for bringing the celebrated person "back home." Anyone wishing to recommend a person for consideration for this feature should contact Donna L. Miller or the Journal.

Timing Issue Turns Would-Be Teacher into a Business Owner

When Ashley Weinheimer graduated from Chinook High School in 2005, she went on to attend Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, where she studied English Education for two years before transferring to MSU-Northern (MSUN) to finish out her English Teaching degree.

Illinois appealed to Weinheimer because she had attended national competition in Chicago as a member of the Academic Challenge Team while in high school. "I fell in love with the city and knew I had to go back," she said. She later transferred to MSUN, not only because she could continue her teaching degree there but because it made sense financially and she was ready to come home.

Since graduating from MSUN in December 2010, Weinheimer has worked at various jobs waitressing. As she completed her degree, she also waitressed and tended bar at the Palace Grill in Chicago to earn money to pay the bills or to fund entertainment and interests.

In 2015, while working at Uncle Joe's Steakhouse and Restaurant, she met Anthony Windy Boy, who was employed as a cook and where he ultimately worked for twelve years. By this time, Weinheimer herself had acquired ten years' experience waitressing and bartending. The couple's daughter Madison was born in March of 2017.

Early in 2018, Weinheimer and Windy Boy learned that Boxcars Restaurant and Lounge was for sale. Craig and Sandy Anderson wanted to retire. Eager to be the authors of their own life stories, Weinheimer and Windy Boy bought Boxcars and took over as business partners on April 24, 2018. According to Weinheimer, the location, their experience, and a desire to be their own bosses motivated the purchase.

"Knowing the industry made it easy to step into the business. The best part of owning our own business is that no one is telling us what to do or correcting us for not doing what we're told. If something doesn't make sense, we fix it by using common sense. Boxcars is the right place; it's a good fit for us," Weinheimer said.

Located at 619 First Street in Havre, Boxcars opens daily at 11:00 a.m. and serves lunch until 2:00 p.m., but the bar remains open until 2:00 a.m. Weinheimer and Windy Boy employ five additional employees, but the two work every day and are involved with every aspect of the business-although they each have their areas of expertise. Windy Boy's is cooking.

Upon acquiring the business, Windy Boy was determined to give the restaurant a face-lift, hoping that new carpet, paint, and decorations would bring in new clientele. So far, the menu, rather than the décor, has done that for the couple.

"Nothing beats freshly baked Kaiser Rolls and fresh burger that we hand patty ourselves, right?" Windy Boy asked.

Besides an array of gourmet burgers like the Western Burger-1/3-pound burger patty, breaded onion petals, peppered bacon, pepper jack cheese and barbecue sauce on a freshly baked Kaiser roll and served with fries-the menu at Boxcars also offers sandwiches, salads, soups, appetizers, and broasted chicken, which is broasted in-house. Ever the promoter of his craft, Windy Boy said, "If anyone needs a large quantity of chicken for an event or gathering, give us a call ahead of time and a couple day's notice and we can take care of it!"

Some of the soups featured at Boxcars have been Tomato Basil with Ravioli, Chicken with Wild Rice, Clam Chowder, and Cream of Potato. Because the restaurant has a Facebook presence, where Windy Boy posts photographs of his creations, a person scanning the pictures may begin to salivate. One reviewer wrote, "The hand breaded sweet potatoes are a gift from heaven! The breading has a salty touch to even out the sweetness."

Windy Boy's favorite menu item to prepare is "the Philly Burger because it was one of my first menu items, so it just has a place in my heart, so to speak," he said.

Weinheimer reported that potential customers can always check out Boxcar's Facebook page for weekly specials that are not on the regular menu. She added that some items are available to go and that gift certificates are available in any amount.

When asked about plans for the future of the business, Weinheimer responded, "Right now we're only open for lunch, so some day we will open for dinner. Anthony misses grilling and serving steaks. I told him we could take the business in that direction in sixteen years when Madison is grown!"

In fact, when asked what aspect of the business posed the greatest challenge, Weinheimer readily replied, "The time away from Maddy!"

Despite that absence, the perks tend to compensate. "What most surprised me about the bar/restaurant business is how natural it feels. It is not as nerve-wracking as I thought it might be," Weinheimer said. "I also enjoy the social aspect of the business. It is always good to see Chinook residents and to receive not only their support but updates from home."

Due to the couple's time investment, creativity, and renovations, Boxcars won the Best New Restaurant award in September 2018, an award which was presented by MSU-Northern Radio, KNMC 90.1FM. The Best of Havre Awards are voted on by the public.

Because Weinheimer considers her time as a business owner to be "too new since we're still figuring this whole 'owning a business thing' out," she neglected to share any advice or wisdom with others. Although she acknowledged that she's not exactly putting her English Education degree to use in a classroom, she stated that education is never a waste: "I use my training when I interact with customers or when I prepare menus or the daily special board."

Weinheimer insisted that nothing about her student teaching experience deterred her from a becoming a teacher. It was simply a timing issue. Since she had graduated in December and would have to wait until August for a teaching job, she began waitressing more hours and discovered that she loved the busyness of the job as well as the social element. "Interacting with people is just fun!" Weinheimer said. "Ninety-nine per cent of the time, the job is not stressful. People have come out to eat or to drink, so they are enjoying themselves. I like being a part of that."

Many might say that life is the best teacher, and right now Weinheimer admitted that she is learning about football plays and teams and terminologies. "We don't have NFL Ticket, but Boxcars is a big football bar, and we show all the games. I'm learning more than I ever wanted to know about football!"

Even though some things about Boxcars have clearly changed, some aspects remain the same. The restaurant still provides meals for Amtrak every day, for example, and the signature train still chugs along the tracks that are set just below the ceiling and travel the bar's perimeter. For now, the future of the business seems to be in capable hands and moving forward with Weinheimer and Windy Boy as its engineers.

 
 

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