Small town buildings turned into lifelong commitments for Northeast Nebraska residents
A property of Highway 20 is just one of several this pair has bought and transformed over the years.
ORCHARD, Neb.— A property of Highway 20 is just one of several this pair has bought and transformed over the years.
And this time like all the others, they say it’s about giving something back to the community.
Lisa Meisner is originally from the area, while Polly Anderson moved from her hometown in Arizona in 2020, after the two bought the Royal Bar and brought it back to life.
“We were in the royal bar having breakfast, and the young man that was with us told us we should buy this bar,” Anderson said. “And we're like, What are you talking about? I don't want to I don't know nothing about no bar. So we ended up buying a bar.”
Now, their latest project is open for business, with six rooms that all have a totally different look.
“We just sat down and spent a lot of hours, her more so than me picking out thoughts and diversities so than me picking out thoughts and diversities,” Anderson said.
The two say these kinds of projects are what keep them going. From finding properties to doing the construction and running the businesses, they handle just about everything themselves.
Their past projects include an Airbnb, a renovated farmhouse that they live in.
The pair bought the Royal bar and the old royal schoolhouse around the same time, but sold the school after many complications came up.
But at the end of the day, they say the most rewarding part is simple.
“It was wonderful, but it just hasn't kicked in yet,” Anderson said.
“Yeah, it is a little surreal. Just like you walk in and you just smile. It's like, oh, this is so fun. These are so cute, you know?” Meisner said.