Although many people tend to glorify independent business ownership-believing that owning a business grants freedom to determine personal working hours-those individuals may not have a full picture of the challenges.

Self-employment can actually be compared to riding a roller coaster: the highs are euphoric and the lows produce the visceral sensation of a belly-swoop as blood rushes away from the stomach and moves into other organ systems-such as the muscles-that are essential for defense, attack, and intense exertion as our bodies shift into survival mode.

Laci Larson and Curtis Bilger, the new owners of the Pastime Lounge and Steakhouse, are on that roller coaster as they experience all the ups and downs of setting up and preparing to operate and grow their business. Despite this, though, the pair believes that business ownership will be an investment in themselves and their future.

In sharing potential advice with others seeking the freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment of owning their own business, Larson stated: "You have to love the job that you do-all aspects of it. Because without the bad, you don't appreciate the good."

Bilger added, "Be prepared for long hours and lots of hard work."

Having spent seventeen years in the business of bartending, catering management, and casino work, Larson concluded, "After serving in that line of work for so long with nowhere else to move up, I thought-it's time to buy my own and invest in myself."

Bilger agrees, saying: "We both have the work ethic, and we can build something that we can leave for our kids Rachel (11) and Corey (17) if they're interested when the time comes."

As the couple moved through the buy-sell process, they considered the rules and regulations surrounding health and building codes to be especially cumbersome. "The issues of compliance just seem somewhat confusing, and the inspections were kind of endless. You could drown in all the paperwork," Larson recalls.

In fact, at the beginning of May, Larson and Bilger were still waiting for approval from the State Liquor Board-an authorization that is holding up their ability to open. While they have no idea when that moratorium will lift, they plan to make announcements via Facebook, flyers, and the local newspaper when it does.

Although the loan process and getting the necessary money together was another challenge, neither of the partners is afraid of the hard work required of business ownership. They have been in the building since the second week of March, cleaning, sanding floors, coating mopboards with polyurethane, and otherwise getting ready to welcome customers.

They plan to open the bar first before investing too much energy into renovating the restaurant or the living quarters upstairs. Ideally, Larson and Bilger will find someone interested in leasing the kitchen area for a restaurant. "If we can't find someone who wants to lease out the adjacent space, we'll eventually look at growing the business in that direction so as to give the community another option for dining." Larson explained.

Until then, they won't hire any help, preferring to run the business themselves. But ultimately, Larson and Bilger speculate that they might be looking at hiring 10-13 employees to fill the shifts necessary to keep a restaurant operational.

About that prospect, Larson said: "I'd also like to be able to offer benefits to our employees, since most of the time shift work is done for just tips and wages. Down the road, I'd like to be able to offer something more, like a 401(k) plan."

After a tour of the facility, Bilger stated: "We mostly want to bring back a tradition and give people a place to gather and socialize."

Pointing out the brands that wander along the walls and perch just below the ceiling, Bilger added, "This place has history; it tells a story of the community. This is a building of love." Hoping to augment that story, he rescued the Mackenzie Antiques sign and plans to hang it on a south facing wall.

So far, the couple-who have been together for 19 years now-agrees that the best part of the business venture they're on has been curious people coming through the door to say hello. "We're not even open yet, and people are stopping by to say hi and to check in on us. We simply tell them that we're learning something new every day as we look forward to having them in for a drink soon!"

When they're not working, Bilger and Larson enjoy gold panning in the Little Rockies near Zortman. In other interests, Bilger is drawn to metal detecting, and Larson suggested that she would like to try magnet fishing. Someone who engages in that sport uses a mega-strong magnet attached to a length of rope that is cast in an effort to grab ferrous metal objects that are hidden or lost underwater. Magnet fishing hobbyists have been known to pull trash, firearms, bicycles, and even Civil War artifacts from various waterways.

Although magnet fishing is not a new hobby, its popularity skyrocketed in 2021 when hobbyists started sharing news of their treasure hunts on platforms like YouTube, which has more than 540,000 videos related to the topic.

In true treasure hunter fashion, Larson lit up at the possibility in magnet fishing, claiming that the anticipation of finding something valuable, historical, or just plain interesting is part of the fun.

"It would also be good for the environment since magnet fishing would clean the metal out of rivers and streams," Larson said.