‘We had a high vision for the community’: Crete restaurant makes a comeback after 2024 fire

CRETE, Neb. (KLKN) – Nearly two years after a massive fire destroyed the Old Main Bar and Grill in Crete, the owners didn’t let it defeat them.

Instead, they reopened the restaurant and expanded their vision for the community.

Greg Mach and co-owner Pat Reed started Old Main Bar and Grill to give back to the community that raised them.

“When we first purchased the restaurant, we had a high vision for the community,” said Mach. “We wanted to provide a lot of options. We had a fried food restaurant, so we wanted to get away from that, and we started raising our own beef.”

He says they wanted to do better, and better beef was an ideal next step since Mach is a cattle rancher himself.

The duo held soft openings and learned what more was needed, so that Tuesday’s opening day could happen without a hitch.

Mach says they have consistently constructed the new Old Main over the last 1 year and 10 months since the fire and have aimed for perfection.

Even admitting that if a new structure weren’t exactly as they envisioned, they would rip it up and start over to achieve the perfect balance of opulence and entertainment.

“We’ve worked hard to get this place up and running,” said Mach. “In the end, we had some great people working on the building. They did a great job with the woodwork and the designs behind the beer wall. It turned out incredible,” said Mach.

The renovated space has a 20-beer tap wall, two pool tables and two golf simulators on the second floor, making the upstairs the place to let loose, while the main floor is more delicately laid out for guests to come together.

Most walls on the first floor are covered with framed photos reflecting Crete’s history, as well as photos of the construction journey that transformed it.

“There has been so much thought, everything from every detail, just completely thought out,” said Executive Head Chef Becca Myles.

She says getting this gig was a dream come true for her, but creating a diverse menu for both worlds was challenging at first.

“It’s fun and creative, different flavors meet different textures, things like that. I love it all, it’s what I do,” said Myles.

Her favorite casual eat? The beer cheese phillies, but as for dinner, she says you have to go with beef.

Myles showed Channel 8 the restaurant’s dry-ager, right at the entrance.

“This is our dry-aged beef; the owners wanted to bring this in. They got the idea while traveling, they were inspired,” she said.

The Old Main Bar and Grill plans to host many events in the newly transformed space.

Mach says he hopes it entices Nebraskans from all over the state to visit.

Their next event, called Midnight Special, on May 30, will showcase live music in their beer garden.