CSB Closing Early on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 for Staff Training
We value the importance of lifelong learning and financial literacy. For this reason, we will be closing all locations at 3 PM on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, for staff training. Thank you for your understanding! Please keep a lookout for additional training dates throughout 2024.
As a community bank we have the unique opportunity to be an influential part of many special journeys taking place in our communities. Whether it's guiding a customer through their first mortgage experience, helping a business customer start up a new idea, working hand-in-hand with a local non-profit organization to make a difference or simply being a mentor for a new employee of Community State Bank...our purpose as a community bank is to "Provide Opportunity"!
We'd like to take some time to shine a spotlight on some of those unique stories and share them with you, our community and our customers! Wherever you are in your financial journey, Community State Bank is here to help.
For this special story, CSB visited Carrie Bristoll-Groll and Anthony Groll. In 2020 they stumbled upon a former bar and restaurant that was for sale in Northern Kettle Moraine. From the moment they walked into the property, Carrie knew that this would be their forever home. Here’s their story and how Community State Bank's Business Banking Team and Mortgage Lending Team teamed up to provide the Groll Family with the opportunity to purchase and transform a restaurant into home sweet home...
While backpacking the Ice Age Trail in Fond du Lac County in October 2020, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a roadway that led us to this closed and abandoned-looking restaurant in the middle of the state forest. It was a wreck, but was calling out for some love!
We wanted to know more and contacted a local realtor for a tour. The realtor told us that 4 other couples had tried to purchase the property, but being a restaurant (during 2020 and the beginning stages of Covid-19), banks weren't loaning for new restaurants. A few had wanted to convert it into a home, but because of it's current setup (15 sinks, 2 urinals, no showers or closets), others had not been able to get financing.
As business owners, and having a good relationship with our Community State Bank Commercial Banker, Robert Pieroni, we really didn't think twice in talking with anyone else. At first, there was hesitation by CSB on whether they would put this through as a commercial or residential loan, but the two teams came together to make it happen for us.
We purchased the former bar/restaurant that was built around an 1860's log cabin. It's a unique property set on 9 acres in the middle of the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest. We are now converting it into our forever home and hope to leave it as a legacy for our children one day.
Amazing! Every step of the purchase seemed to cause new hurdles but the bank was willing to work with us. CSB decided to run the loan as commercial, so a commercial appraisal was needed. Commercial appraisers were not jumping at the opportunity, as there were no comparable properties within 20 miles. We had an accepted offer on our former house, and we were going to have to move one way or another. CSB went out of their way to make sure we got the appraisal wrapped up so we could close within days of needing to move. Since closing, we've kept in touch with the bank and have been providing photos of how our progress is going. They seem to be genuinely interested and excited for us.
Because we own a small business of our own, we have had about 7 bankers at 4 banks over the past 20 years. None of them seemed like real people to us. Many seemed like a traditional stuffy bankers who were out of touch with our niche business and didn't seem to care about our success. However, our experience at Community State Bank was different. Their Business Banking Team has gone above and beyond, connecting us with other like companies or potential clients. Because of their efforts it has led us to at least one new project. Similarly, on the personal/residential side, CSB cares about the dreams and ambitions that we have, and they look for ways to say yes, rather than no. They almost feel more like family than bankers...that's a compliment!
We added a shower on closing day, so that we could move in 2 days later. That was mid-January. Since that time, we sold or donated all the restaurant equipment, removed the 52 foot long bar and piping, added a master closet, removed a 12 by 18 foot walk-in cooler, installed a whole new kitchen, new windows, filled in hardwood floor where the bar was removed, and refinished the whole open space floor. The restaurant had two very large roof top heating units, which were very costly to run ($1300 heating bill in January). We had those removed and installed new AC and hot water/radiant heat. The roof is about half complete, as well as some siding updates. Next steps are adding a guest bathroom and two guest bedrooms, and lastly our master bath. The schedule is on target to be completed by the end of this year, so we can refinance to a residential mortgage...which of course will be at CSB. Besides the electrical, HVAC, and roof, we have done all of the work ourselves, with the help of two of our grown sons. It's a family effort. It has been a busy year between business and renovations, but we are keeping our noses to the grindstone!
Yes! The second floor of the property also has a 1 bedroom apartment that was being rented out for 15 years by the former bar manager. My husband likes to joke that "he came with the place" and had no lease, so we let him stay until June. We have since renovated that space and are using it as an AirBnB. The listing is live if you'd like to check it out. It's a great space and because the property was a restaurant, it's in close proximity to snowmobile trails for winter occupants. The area is beautiful and we're surrounded by the Kettle Moraine State Forest in addition to many lakes. It's a beautiful area.
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Following the interview, Kenosha Market President, Robert Pieroni and Mortgage Loan Officer, Kim Terpstra were taken on a tour of the property. Photos from that tour can be seen below. Once the project is complete, Community State Bank looks forward to re-visiting the property and getting video footage of the completed project. Stay tuned!
