Kathy Hershiser worked at the Wooden Nickel for 15 years before the Dansville landmark was destroyed by a fire last April. The historic restaurant and bar was a community meeting place, and the fire hit the town pretty hard.
“I believe Larry says it was the oldest running saloon in Ingham County,” says Hershiser of owner Larry Arnett. “It’s been a bar since prohibition."
But now, the local saloon is on its way back. Though the original building was beyond salvageable, Arnett purchased two buildings immediately behind the Mason Street location. Slowly, one was renovated into a replacement location and opened with a limited menu. In the next month or two, Hershiser expects the second building to open and the full menu to return.
“It took him a lot to come back,” she says of Arnett. “He’s 63, so he didn’t have to do it. He did it for the community.”
The Dansville community has been enjoying the smaller version of the Wooden Nickel with seating for 30 to 40 people and a staff of four. When the new building opens that space will double and steaks, burgers and more will return to the menu.
“It’s not going to be huge,” Hershiser says, “but it will be a nice size for Dansville.”
Hershiser hopes to see the staff continue to grow and more of their customers to come back more regularly after the expansion.
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