Inspiring Conversations with Scott Terheggen Darlene Christy of S & D BARS LLC dba Walnut Room Saloon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Terheggen Darlene Christy

Hi Scott Terheggen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My Fiance’ and partner have been in the bar business for about 30 years. Her as a bartende and manager and me as an owner. We got together in 2018 and quickly decided to do a bar together. We found a beer bar in Tustin that needed a lot of TLC. We bought the bar in July of 2019 with the intentions of upgrading the liquor license to a full bar and do a cosmetic makeover. In March of 2020 we got shut down due to covid and decided it would be a good time to remodel. Darlene and I did 90% of the work ourselves since we had a ton of time on our hands with my other locations closed down due to Covid.

After the remodel we were able to get approval from the city to upgrade our liquor license to full alcohol and got a good deal on a liquor license. When we were allowed to re-open in 2021 we opened up with a bang!! Our existing customers really LOVED the remodel and the new choices of liquor we could now serve. Ever since then, sales have been increasing and the bar is very successful. We have a great group of employees and new customers.

In 2023 Darlene and I got approval to open a new bar in Riverside on Hole Ave and we are in the process of building it out. It will be a similar bar to our Tustin location and it will be called “Watering Hole Saloon”

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Over the years there have been many challenges but none greater than the Covid lockdowns. At the time, I had 3 locations. Two in LA County and 1 in Orange county. LA County was stricter with the lockdowns and we were closed for a little over a year.

As you know, we’re big fans of S & D BARS LLC dba Walnut Room Saloon. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are in the business of buying, fixing up and operating bars. Over the years Scott has been invloved in 10 locations.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Scott’s mentor was his Brother-in-law Peter Genovese. They were in the Real Estate business from 1989 until 2015. I They got started in the bar business in 1994 with their first bar opening in Laguna Niguel. It was called Draft Choice Sports Grill.

Contact Info:

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