Allison's Bar Car, a new Northwoods taxi service

A new business has recently emerged in Phelps with definite benefits for the Eagle River area. Welcome to Allison’s Bar Car. This is a ride service with its focus on providing safe rides home from local taverns and bars.

Owners Ken and Marianne Allison gave birth to the idea one night at Dublin’s Sports Bar and Grill in Conover. They were reminiscing with one of the bartenders about the cab business they owned in Florida. The Allisons had close relationships with the owners and staff at the businesses they served. Dublin’s bartender said that this area could use such a service.

The Allisons then went to Great Escape for dinner. There they further discussed a ride service and again were met with the same positive reaction. Days later, Ken was working the Poker Run for the snowmobile club. He put out marketing feelers for the feasibility of the ride service.

Ken was subsequently invited by Dan Ullsperger, of Buckshots Saloon and Eatery and president of the Vilas County Tavern League, to a meeting. Ken presented a proposed ride service. It received wide approval.

Ken grew up in the Chicago area as a trucker and he lived all over the country. But the physical demands took a toll on his body, and his disability forced him to retire.

Not being one to sit around, Ken and his wife moved to Florida. He took a job driving a taxi. In an attempt to help expand his boss’s business, he bought a car for use in the next county. The proposal did not go over well, and thus Allison’s Car Service was born.

The business went gangbusters. Within three months of the start-up, he had five cars and a staff of drivers. Ken marketed his business heavily, developing relationships with businesses, such as doctors’ offices, restaurants, and bars.

With a huge emphasis on reliability, they could barely keep up with the demand. “Even with drivers and even with cars, we could never sleep. That phone always rang,” said Ken.

They eventually hired a girl to manage the business, and later they sold the business to her. Unfortunately, she ran it into the ground. The reliability factor went out the window.

He met his second wife, Marianne, and after they sold the taxi service they moved to Missouri. Unfortunately, it was not a great decision, and they then moved to the Northwoods. A younger Ken had spent many years at a resort on the Cisco Chain with his family.

Ken says Marianne loves the Northwoods, especially the friendly nature of the people.

Allison’s Bar Car has launched its bar-oriented service. “We just don’t have the capacity to do the grocery store runs,” Ken explained.

They will be partnering with bars in the Safe Ride Program. Ken also hosts Trivia night at Dublin’s Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday nights starting at 7:00 p.m., and it’s free. Prizes are paid to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams.

Newly released, Allison’s Bar Car is working with Eagle River Taxi and will eventually be taking over this business. The owner of Eagle River Taxi is transitioning out of transportation services.

According to Allison’s Facebook page, “We will gladly service customers wishing to go to and from the Eagle River area while also being able to provide transportation services to customers outside of Eagle River Taxi’s primary service area.”

“We will be looking at making Rhinelander airport runs as well,” Ken advised.

You can also follow Ken at Overtime Heroics (https://www.overtimeheroics.net/). He is a department head in the Major League Baseball department and is an editor and writer for this comprehensive sports website. He also wrote for the Cubs organization and even tried out for the team in 1986.

To make sure you arrive home safely after a fun night out with friends, be sure to call Allison’s Bar Car at 417-669-0322. Follow their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AllisonsBarCar/) for the latest updates, too!