Looking at getting hard liquor license

OROVILLE – Bernice “Bunny” and Ike Williams are the new owners of the Shop Tavern located at 2002 Main Street in Oroville. The business will be managed by their son, Richard Williams.

“We recently purchased the Shop Tavern from Dan Hand, buying it in April,” said Bunny Williams, who added that the doors opened on April 12.

The Shop had its grand opening on May 4 and 5 and kicked things off with a two-day pool tournament.

“We had players from Omak, Penticton, BC, Cawston, BC and Plummer, Idaho, with local players as well,” she said. “It was a successful grand opening and we had music by DJ Karl.”

The Shop Tavern serves 100 different beers, according to the new owners. It offers good food as well as pull tabs. They open at noon each day and they stay open until 2 a.m. Among the items on the menu are burgers, fries, onion rings, hot wings, hot dogs and Frito pies.

“We just recently got our pull tab license and will have a variety of pull tab games available,” she said.

Bunny Williams runs the BCA, the Billiard Congress of America, Pool League that runs every Monday. The BCA League has been running for three years and each year the players who want to can qualify to go to regionals or nationals. The regionals are held in Lincoln City, Oregon and the nationals are in Las Vegas.

“I have 25 to 30 players playing every Monday. I put Somonis 860 cloth on two of the pool tables and raised them,” she said.

She and husband Ike play in the regionals twice a year in Lincoln City and compete in the nationals in Las Vegas every year.

“We play Scotch Doubles, Singles and teams,” she said.

The Williams have lived in Oroville for 48 years and raised their family here. She has been working at the Mill Bay Casino for 18 years and still works there. Bunny Williams earned her Bachelors Degree from Eastern Washington University.

“I was a Tribal Gaming Agent doing Background Investigations and Licensing for five years and Assistant Casino Manager for eight years working as Facility Manager with up to 25 employees under my supervision. I have 18 years of Gaming Experience,” she said.

Although it looks much the same as it did under the previous ownership, the Williams are looking at upping their food sales so they can apply for a Hard Liquor License in the fall.

Why by a tavern? She said she thought it would be a good venture to help her slow down and retire some day.

“It seems like I am speeding up since I work full time, run a pool league and now am a tavern owner,” she said.

Add to that, Williams said she’s willing to operate a Dart League in the fall or winter if they get interest. She asks anyone who is interested to stop by and leave their contact information.