The Boardwalk Bar and Grill in East Grand Forks got a major renovation to its River Deck Bar.
The deck is now completely enclosed in a weather screen. Owners added a few fire pits and some infrared heaters to keep the deck area 73 to 75 degrees, even when it’s cold out.
“We want to extend the season,” said Jane Moss, who is a partner in the business.
The screens are retractable, so they can still offer a cool breeze on summer days.
Normally the deck opens around the middle of May and closes around the middle of November. This will allow the deck to be used year-round. Owners also added pulley fans and more televisions to the deck.
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The upgrade was about a $150,000 investment, according to co-owner Scott Stauss.
The deck opens off of their banquet room, which can accommodate up to 400 people.
Moss said they’re still not sure if they will open the deck up during the winter months.
“We don’t know if that will hurt the spring surprise,” Moss said.
The partners, which include Scott and Dan Stauss, bought the deck level about five years ago, three years after they took over the Boardwalk.
