Crews battle a fire at River Rail Bar and Banquet Hall on River Street in Shiocton, August 2, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Fox Valley community is coming together to help out a family business in need.
Shiocton’s River Rail Bar and Banquet Hall was lost in a fire last week.
Now, some new fundraisers are helping the owners and employees rebuild and get on their feet.
Once Shiocton resident, Jamie Dontje, heard about the River Rail’s devastating loss, he knew he had to do something.
“This was all started out with Families in Need, and then when the River Rail burned down of course, we had no choice to help them as well and it just revolved into something bigger,” said Dontje.
Multiple emergency crews responded to a fire at the bar and restaurant on Aug. 2. At this time, it’s not known how the fire started.
“It is devastating because we know that everyone in the community has memories in that business,” said Julie Pyke, bar manager at Wild River Pizza Pub.
River Rail Bar and Banquet Hall on River Street is a well-known business according to its website and has been “family owned and operated” since 1983.
“It meant a lot,” said Dontje. “It was a historic place to go, place to eat, place to hang out for many years.”
Dontje is the owner of JT’s Custom Cycle & Repair. His charity motorcycle ride, which benefits families in need in Shiocton, was scheduled for Aug. 19 to start at the River Rail.
It will still start there, but will also now benefit the bar.
“When we were approached to host the event, we never thought twice about helping,” said Pyke.
Pyke says being a small business in the community as well, the restaurant is crushed about what happened to River Rail.
“So many people have lost their livelihood and it’s a great business that has been around for almost 40 years, that this is devastating to the whole community including us,” she said.
After the motorcycle ride, everyone is invited to Wild River.
“We are having a band, we are having Crankin’ Yankees here,” said Pyke. “We will have basket raffles and other 50/50 raffles, different things throughout the day.”
There will be a cover charge of $10 per person with the proceeds going the owners and employees and also to help rebuild the River Rail.
“I have talked to the owner and he seems to want to build, seems to want to put it back up,” said Dontje.
The Motorcycle Ride & Rolling Bike Show fundraiser begins at 9 a.m. on the 19, and “Let’s Help Rebuild RiverRail!” kicks off at 7 p.m. at Wild River Pizza Pub.
“It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like the community is finally pulling some strings and pulling back together again,” said Dontje.
If you are unable to attend next Saturday and would still like to donate, donations can be made to the River Rail Rebuliding Fund at any of the Wolf River Community Banks.
For more information about the events, click here.
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