Family converted historic grain elevator in a labor of love

topey@sanduskyregister.comWAKEMANThe recently opened Wakeman Elevator Craft Beer & Wine Barn is a rustic, charming spot that is a must-visit.Darlene Witter-Krieger and her husband Jeff bought the old Wakeman Elevator 12 years ago. The couple feels they were meant to own the turn-of-the-century elevator and silos at 16 Hyde St., Wakeman.Darlene's family operated their family farm about four miles from the elevator. She fondly recalls coming to the elevator with her family as a child to sell their crops. Years later, the elevator would come back into her life when Darlene, who is a real estate broker, was given the listing to sell the property. The couple bought it and converted it into three businesses while retaining the original structure. One of the businesses is Darlene's essential oil business, D & L Essentials.The BarThe latest work at the elevator is the construction of the Wakeman Elevator Craft Beer and Wine Barn.The space offers six craft beers on tap. The rotating selections include Conway's Irish Ale and Samuel Adams Cold Snap. They also offer more than a dozen other bottled beers, both imported and domestic.Wine lovers will find a nice selection of local, American and international wines to suit any taste.Between the wine and the beer, there are more than 50 flavor offerings at the establishment.The food menu includes lobster bisque, Reuben sandwiches and the chocolate sea salt brownies.The barn's western décor features copper colored tin ceiling, reclaimed barn wood, original wood floors, new western style restrooms and a handmade bar. A horse collar and a handcut blackboard find new uses as a unique menu board on the wall.Jeff, who handled most of the remodel himself says the best part was working with his father. "When people come in here they cannot believe it. They never expected it to look like this," Jeff said.Wakeman Event CenterA cozy, comfortable space, the Event Center is suitable for any type of event from business meetings or retreats to personal celebrations.The outdoor patio leading into the event center once held elevator scales stood for area farmers to drive onto to have crops weighed,Furniture, memorabilia and items from the family farm fill the center. It takes several minutes to take it all in, even longer to explore the building with something to be found at every turn — a chute in a ceiling and a lift in a closet that took elevator employees to the top of the silos to monitor their fullness.A point of pride is what Darlene calls "The Witter Wall," one wall entirely covered in family items, including her father's Erie County Sheriff uniform from his time as a mounted deputy.Wakeman Event CenterPhone: 440-839-2925Like them on Facebook at facebook.com/thewakemanelevatorWakeman Elevator Craft Beer and Wine Bar440-654-3491Visit them at wakemanelevator.com/home for further informationEvents at the Wakeman Elevator Craft Beer and Wine BarnGrand opening March 12Live entertainment on SaturdaysAppetizers and Art event6 to 8 p.m. April 26Murder Mystery Dinner TheaterBloody Mary Murder Mystery1 to 4 p.m. April 24$45 Ticket price includes mealSundaysBloody Mary BarMimosas are also servedMelissa Dillon and Jeff Krieger stand in front of their craft beer and wine menu at the Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. Darlene Witter-Krieger sits with her dog Tucker at the Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. Melissa Dillon and Jeff Krieger stand in front of their craft beer and wine menu at the Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Wakeman Elevator on Monday, March 7, 2016.