Feasting in a winter wonderland

Freddy’s Mexican & More decorates for the seasons

Why walk through a winter wonderland when you can dine in one? The saying that you first eat with your eyes is embraced at Freddy’s Mexican & More, a popular restaurant and bar in Hatley.

For the past 10½ years, owners Pat Hahn and Jim Schwartzkopf have been treating their customers to visual and culinary feasts.

From Thanksgiving until the end of January, decorations include an explosion of Christmas items, making it a popular spot for parties and reunions. Although the decorations vary from year to year, there are certain items that customers expect to be there, like the upside-down Christmas tree.

“I think it might be a European tradition to hang a tree from the ceiling,” Schwartzkopf said. “We did it because we don’t have the floor space.”

“Since it looks like a big chandelier, it was a natural decision to only hang crystal ornaments on it,” Hahn said.
She also noted that their animated skunk and raccoon need to make an appearance each year or she’ll never hear the end of it.

A lot of families and businesses hold their Christmas parties in January when it’s still festive but less stressful for all concerned, Schwartzkopf said. The groups in December tend to be smaller.

It takes between 150 and 170 hours to decorate the business, so Hahn and Schwartzkopf just do three seasons, combining spring and summer.

By the end of January, they’ve edited Christmas out of the scene but leave winter up until the snow is gone. They’ll switch in some décor for a nod to Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, but those additions are minimal.

The themes get very imaginative during the rest of the year. Once they did an airplane theme with large model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and a landing strip on the wall.

Schwartzkopf and Hahn have been in the hospitality business since 1996. Gary Zander, then-manager at the Maple Hills Golf Club in Wittenberg, introduced them and encouraged them to take over the lease, which they did for the next seven years before working about five years at Freddy’s.

When former owners Dale and Bernie Ninneman decided to get out of the hospitality industry, Hahn and Schwartzkopf jumped at the chance to buy the building and the business.

Finding employees is a constant struggle with most businesses in the industry, according to Freddy’s owners. Other challenges include being in a rural location where there is no taxi service. The ban on smoking in restaurants imposed by the state several years ago increased the number of families dining at Freddy’s, they said.

Freddy’s participates in a summer volleyball league, hosts corn hole games and plans to start a cribbage league on Tuesday nights.

The Mexican/American menu was well established by the Ninnemans, and the chimichangas remain the top seller. Fish tacos come in second.

AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Freddy’s Mexican & More
WHERE: 408 State Road, Hatley
WHO: Pat Hahn and Jim Schwarzkopf, owners.
WHEN: Open 4-9 p.m. Sunday; 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
FYI: For information, call 715-446-3609.