JW Hugus gets 10 years

Historically-named restaurant celebrates a decade in business

The surname Hugus is not only well known in the Valley, but in other parts of Wyoming also. J.W. Hugus once owned 12 businesses in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. The Hugus Company Mercantile in Saratoga was established in 1896, and the building is one of the oldest remaining historic buildings in the community.

The descendants of J.W. Hugus have honored their ancestor by naming their restaurant after this visionary merchant of the Old West.

"We weren't new to the game of running a business since Hillery's family had owned Brush Creek," co-owner Trevor Ingraham said of his wife. "We knew about the seasonal nature of the businesses of the Valley."

Ingraham said when they opened up, they were fairly confident about their business plan although he acknowledges there have been changes over the years. He said a sign of the business being successful is the low turnover he has had.

"We have long-term employees that have been here since day one," Ingraham said. "It makes a difference having this consistency as we continue our business."

Ingraham said he has been blessed with excellent workers and, over the 10 years, has only had to let one person go.

"We treat our employees fair and with respect and it comes back to us," Ingraham said.

He said the business model was to do hamburgers and breakfast well. Although JW Hugus tried doing dinner hours, Ingraham felt the business thrived by not going after that market.

"We used to do dinners the first five years and we realized that our best business was our breakfast and lunchtime," Ingraham said. "We just decided to focus on the breakfast and lunch because that was what was the most popular."

He said the support of the community has kept them in business for the past ten years.

"We never pretend to be something we are not," Ingraham said. "We want our customers to have a good, healthy and large portion of food­-and get it all in a timely manner."

Ingraham said he doesn't want people waiting long periods of time to get a seat or a long wait for their food. He said the area is too beautiful with so much to do that people shouldn't have to spend a lot of time waiting in a restaurant to get their food.

Ingraham said he gets a kick out of seeing items on his menu being highlighted by other food establishments.

"There was no black and blue burger around here until we put it on the menu," Ingraham said. "We will go to Laramie and see our menu items in places and because the item is unique, we know where it came from."

Ingraham takes it as a compliment.

"You know everyone assumes that when you own your business it affords you the freedom to do what you want, but it is exactly the opposite," Ingraham said. "You are married to the place and maybe that is why we are successful because during summer, I am here 50 to 60 days straight."

He said the reward is not only serving the community, but in his case, he got to spend more time raising his sons.

"It gave us the freedom to do things with your kids and you get to build a family business," Ingraham said. "Our youngest one is 11 and he starting to help out here and Thomas (19) started here when he was ten years old."

Ingraham said he doubts if he was working for another business he would have had the opportunity to spend times with his sons the way he has.

The next ten years he expects to be doing the same business.

"We'll keep doing this as long as people want breakfast and to keep looking at Sandy (McKinney) every morning," Ingraham said laughing.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/20/2024 13:10