Corner Bar expanding business

Randy Trahan stands in the rain, perched in the bed of a dump truck, late Tuesday morning, helping his demolition crew load plaster, lath and trash into the truck.

Trahan, who owns the Corner Bar at Third and Main streets, is helping to expedite the gutting of the building next door, formerly Claussen’s.

“I bought it as is,” Trahan tells a friend who stops by to check the place out.

After several dump trucks full of garbage were hauled out, what remains is an empty shell and a dream.

“I needed more space,” Trahan said.

Trahan is taking the recently purchased building and expanding the Corner Bar to almost double the size.

“I’ve been trying to buy the building for six years,” Trahan said.

“There will be two doors from (Corner Bar) to here,” Trahan said, “We’ll have bigger pool tournaments, darts, pretty much everything we’ve had, we’ll do bigger.”

There will also be a stage for live music in the new building and Trahan said that the new addition will be available for special occasions.

“Wedding parties, birthday parties, private meetings -- anybody who needs the space,” Trahan said.

One of the driving forces behind the new purchase is the statewide smoking ban, due to take effect in June 2009.

Trahan wanted to be proactive to the ban and saw an opportunity in the rear of the Claussen’s building with a brick lined storeroom.

“It’s 40 foot by 24 foot back there,” Trahan said, “With no roof on it, it will be a smoking area.”

The Corner Bar intends to see the new addition completed in the near future.

“I’ve got Bluehouse scheduled for Dec. 20,” Trahan said, “We just don’t have the space next door.”