Staff writer
Coming soon to Marion: a new downtown restaurant and bar offering live entertainment on weekends.
Joe and EJ Pickett on Friday closed a deal to purchase Suffield’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing building at the southeast corner of Main and Third streets. Joe Pickett is head of the radiology department at St. Luke Hospital and a 14-year resident of Marion. EJ Pickett is a corporate tax specialist in Wichita who has lived in Marion about three years.
The name of the new restaurant and bar combo will be MacGregor’s. MacGregor’s will serve finger food such as sandwiches and burgers, Joe Pickett said.
EJ Pickett said more restaurant variety is needed in Marion.
“As a community I think that’s something we want to have,” she said.
Joe Pickett said the couple want a place where anyone would feel at ease.
“We want the family-type atmosphere during the restaurant time, which is 11-9, and then at 9 it is going to become a bar,” EJ Pickett said. “No one under 21 will be admitted after 9.”
“The people who don’t feel comfortable on the bar side would feel comfortable on the other side,” Joe Pickett said.
The interior will get a substantial overhaul on the inside before the place is ready to open, Joe Pickett said. Plumbing and electrical work also must be done before opening. The floor will be refinished as well.
“It’s going to take us a bit to get to where we can open it,” Joe Pickett said.
The bar and restaurant will have a “middle-of-the-road” décor, Joe Pickett said. They’ve purchased tables with wooden tops in different shapes and sizes.
An outdoor patio is part of the plan as well, and may be opened in the summer, Joe Pickett said.
The couple is contemplating developing a lounge on the second floor as well.
Joe Pickett hopes the new enterprise will bring more traffic downtown as well as boost local jobs.
No shortage of thought went into the project.
“We’ve been working on this process for about two years,” Joe Pickett said.
Nevertheless, the couple is open to the thoughts of others.
“If somebody in town has something they think would be a good idea, we’re open to suggestions,” EJ Pickett said.