Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
Skippers restaurant was a staple of the Merrill community for over 80 years. Recently, former owner Rick Scott, decided it was time to sell the business. After purchasing the business on July 17, 2002, Scott ran the restaurant until Sept. 10, 2017 when he closed down, only a month after celebrating the restaurant’s 80th anniversary.
When asked why the Skippers had to close, Scott said it was too hard to find help.
“It was nearly impossible to find employees,” Scott stated. “I would have people fill out an application, come to the interview, offer them the job and then they wouldn’t show up for their first day of work.”
Scott then explained how difficult it was to sell the business. “Selling the place was just as hard as finding help. I had a few people who wanted to take over after I left, but then when the time came, they backed out.”
Scott was finally able to sell the restaurant, however it wasn’t under the terms he originally wanted.
“I wanted to keep the restaurant named Skippers.” Scott added. “Skippers had been around the community for a long time, so I wanted to keep it that way, but I did finally give in and ended up selling it to a young couple named Colton and Alex Woller.”
Scott went on to explain that the couple will be taking control of the building on Sep. 1, 2019, and will be naming their new business the Hometown Bakery & Eatery.