The late Kathy Bundy and her family owned a building that housed the former Manitowoc Greyhound Bus Station and more recently, Kathy’s Stage Door Pub, for 44-years. Ownership of the long-standing brick structure at 701 Franklin Street was formally transferred from Andrew & Barb Bundy-Jost to Lane Braun on Monday.
The small, quaint building is on the National Register of Historic Places having been built by William Jones of Chicago in 1848. Bundy-Jost told Seehafer News that pub was her mother’s lifeline, giving her purpose in life and she loved having people come in telling her what was going on in their lives.
Kathy Bundy died last June 11th, but Barb said she and her brother Andrew firmly believe their mom’s spiritual lead helped them make the right choice in selling to the Braun family. Lane Braun, the new owner of the 172-year-old iconic building, is a 1987 graduate of Valders High School and earned an education degree from UW-LaCrosse. He’s been a teacher in Guatemala this school year and noticed on Facebook that the business was for sale, so he called realtor Jane Luchterhand & the process came about very quickly, with the local native closing on the sale early this week. Braun had visited the pub several times and spoke with Kathy during trips back to visit family from previous teaching positions in South Korea, the Middle East, Marshall, and Waukesha.
Braun said he’s always enjoyed the nostalgia, the charm of the pub and plans to retain the atmosphere & connection to the arts and theatre..while adding live music. He says he feels blessed to own the business which will be called “Kathy’s Act-2.”
After some minor renovations to the interior, Lane Braun plans to re-open the pub once the COVID-19 shutdown ends. Braun, his wife and their 7-year old son have relocated to Manitowoc from Guatemala, and he’s thrilled about this new opportunity.
