When Dave Hurliman moved to Alberton from Ninemile, he would frequent the bars in town. Little did he know that nine years later, he would own one of them.

Dave, along with his wife of four years, Vickie, bought Trax and held their grand opening last week. The couple struck a deal with the former owners, Ronna and Aaron Pierre for an undisclosed amount. The Pierre’s also own the High Plains bar in Plains, 4 Acres in Superior, as well as a bar in Trout Creek.

The Hurliman’s quickly went to work fixing up the place. They painted the inside and proudly added their names in big letters above the bar, “Mullet and Vic”. Mullet is the nickname given to Dave when he first moved to town. He earned the name for obvious reasons: “because I had a mullet,” he said.

He has sported a mullet off and on over the years and said that he was currently working on a new one, as he pulled at his black locks of hair.

The bar was built in 1910 and was one of the buildings originally built in Lothrop. Many of the buildings in Lothrop were moved across the Clark Fork River and now populate the town of Alberton. The place still has the original wooden back bar with a large mirror inset in the middle, lined with an array of liquors. There is also a poker table, a pool table, and a big screen TV.

Dave said that they will hold pool tournaments, poker games, and have the TV on for sporting events. Outside, the couple put up a new fence, and build a stage on the back of the courtyard for entertainment.

“We’ll have people come in to play, but the public is also welcome to just show up and jam,” he said.

There is also an upgraded BBQ area where patrons can order a raw steak and cook it up themselves, to their own liking. There’s also a menu of burgers, gyros, nachos, and pulled pork sandwiches. All made with local Superior Meats.

Although Dave’s background is trucking, Vickie has had experience in this business. She was the manager of some fast food restaurants and helped manage an Italian restaurant and bar.

They will also be retaining the employees who worked under the previous owners, including their bookkeeper. The couple’s experience helps smooth the transition, Dave said. In addition to the current staff, three new employees were hired to work under the new management.

A grand opening was held last weekend under drizzly spring skies which dampened some of the outside festivities. But a crowd still gathered inside to welcome the torch being passed to the Hurliman’s.