Pioneers Pub & Grub ownersare ready to hand off the reins

Colleen Conrad will continue to remain active in Casey, particularly in historical research and community develop programs.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, April 2026

The most recent census places the population of Casey at slightly less than 400 residents. Meanwhile, the community sits in a county with a population of approximately 10,000. With those numbers in mind, one might assume there would be little or no downtown businesses in Casey, but that assumption would be wrong. Colleen Conrad is a major reason why.

Conrad grew up in Casey and wanted to do something to rejuvenate the business district. Approximately 10 years ago, she and her husband, Corey, through Conrad Ventures LLC, began buying and renovating buildings in Casey. Conrad said that a favorite quote that relates to her efforts in Casey is, “I can do things you can’t do. You can do things I can’t do. Together, we can do great things.”

Conrad recalled how her efforts in downtown Casey began. 

“Years ago, I was trying to find out some things about my hometown, and I came across author Thomas Duncan, and I hadn’t realized that he was a famed author in the 1950s, and he was born and raised in Casey. His book back then was a national bestseller,” she said. “I was just in awe of him. He went to Harvard and Drake. He worked at The Des Moines Register. And when I was growing up, the library was the Duncan Memorial Library, named after him,” she said. “So, I grew up going to that library, but I had no clue who he was, and it made me realize how quickly history can be forgotten.”

Conrad then started getting interested in the condition of her hometown community. 

“It costs so much to fix these buildings,” she said. “There are so many talented amazing people who would love to have a business in town, but they can’t afford to fix these up, so that was a big goal.”

Conrad initially wanted to purchase just the old Mary’s Café building, but to get that, she had to purchase a total of six buildings. 

“Ironically, that building is the one that hasn’t been done yet because it has to be worked on with the city and the sewer system, so it’s just been on hold,” she said. “Mary’s Café has a history going way back to the 1920s. But I think it stopped being Mary’s Café about the early 1990s.” 

Some of the six buildings purchased by the Conrads have opened as businesses, while others are still in the works. Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar is one of the completed projects. The building was renovated, held a grand opening in January of 2024, and was sold to Ryan and Sara Wahlert in the summer of 2025. 

Pioneers Pub & Grub is another business the Conrads have renovated/created, and they are now ready to hand off the reins to someone else. Conrad explained that it was never the goal for the couple to own and operate the businesses long-term but rather to get things rolling and then allow others to take over. She added her intention is to keep the business open during the search for a buyer, however long that may take. 

Conrad Ventures also created a pocket park in downtown Casey and is continuing efforts to renovate the corner building known by locals as the onetime location of the aforementioned Mary’s Café. 

The Conrads are not the only business owners in Casey who have invested in renovating buildings to operate businesses in the community. Nowadays, Casey supports many downtown businesses. The city offers a variety of shops and services, including choices for health and beauty, clothing and household needs, food, beverages and tasty treats.

Conrad pointed out that she has no plans to turn her back on the community she cherishes. She plans to remain active in Casey, particularly with her interest in historical research. She also focuses on helping the community develop programs to support area residents in need to help with housing, food insecurity and other challenges.

Looking back over a decade of involvement in helping to rehabilitate Casey’s downtown, Conrad recalled a moment that hardened her resolve.

“I remember when I first said I wanted to buy Mary’s Café and I said, ‘I’m going to make Main Street great,’ and this other gentleman just laughed at me. And that’s all it took. I was like, ‘Just watch me,’ ” she said.

Conrad also heard rumors early in the process, as some misunderstood what she was doing. 

“When I got involved, I was surprised that some people thought I had different intentions. I remember one rumor was that I was going to tear down all the buildings and put up windmills,” Conrad said. “Lots of funny stuff.”

Conrad is also involved in helping address local issues such as food insecurity and the need for affordable housing.

“Someone told me, ‘You know what, Colleen, you’re a visionary.’ I love that word,” she said. 

No one need worry that Conrad will be bored when Pioneers is sold. She plans to continue looking into the history of the Casey community and its residents. She also plans to remain involved in the current events of the community.

“I have lots of other goals in my life. I plan to travel when my husband retires. The goal has always been to save these buildings, rehab them and make them functional, and show people, even in other towns, and then pass the torch,” Conrad said. “I guess we’ll see what the future brings.”