Mary Bauer wanted to help her community.

Clatonia, a village of about 265 people, has been without a local bar and restaurant for several months.

Bauer watched as the elderly community members went to the bank for coffee and workers on their lunch breaks had to leave town for a good meal.

If residents wanted to spend an evening at a bar, they couldn’t do it in Clatonia. They were traveling to nearby communities instead.

“My town needed a bar,” Bauer said. “I wanted to keep their business in town.”

So Bauer opened The Clatonia Bar & Grill.

Bauer is the previous co-owner of the Coyote Den, which she started eight years ago after a surgery to keep her mind off of being ill.

She was diagnosed with gangrene of the lung and with the illness, dropped down to 63 pounds. Her doctor advised her to stop working.

That’s when she sold the bar and watched as community members lost their regular hangout.

“We were a big part of the community,” she said.

The bar wasn’t just a bar, Bauer said.

She held receptions for funerals and weddings. If someone had a house fire, she would open the bar so they could have water, coffee and a warm place to go.

“Our community needs a place to go,” she said.

After selling the bar, she visited the Mayo Clinic for her illness, gained weight and is slowly getting healthier.

“We’re starting all over again,” she said. “It’s a little overwhelming.”

Bauer’s brother, John Nelson, has helped her get the bar in working order.

Nelson also works in Wilber at the Checkered Flag.

But Bauer doesn’t feel like she and her brother are at this alone. Bars and restaurants from Wilber, DeWitt, Sprague and Kramer have pitched in, helping with alcohol, giving them food while they work and Sprague even helped by selling coolers to the bar to get it started.

“We’ve had a lot of support,” Bauer said. “The whole community has pitched in.”

She said her neighbor down the street, Russ Schuerman of Schuerman Welding Inc., has helped with repairs and the kitchen hood system.

“I think everyone’s happy to have (the bar) back,” she said. “They feel like it’s back home.”

The bar offers daily lunch specials. After a special election in Clatonia, the bar will also offer keno in the near future.

The Clatonia Bar & Grill has been in the process of getting a keno license, which Bauer was told will take 30-120 days. It’s been a month so far.

“I’m excited about that,” she said.

Due to the smoking ban, Clatonia residents may notice the sidewalk cafe that Bauer started outside of the bar. The only change is that outside drinkers will have to use plastic only, no glass.

Though she doesn’t rule out selling the bar again, she said it won’t be any time soon.

“I needed a place to go, and so does everyone here,” she said.

The Clatonia Bar & Grill,  165 Washington St., is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday 8 a.m.- 1 a.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-11 p.m.