La Crosse, WI (WXOW)-- Dan Nelson spent 38 years in the boat business, but last year he entered a new business venture and opened a restaurant.
"We decided to combine the previous Fisherman's Diner and previous Bob's Bait and Tackle shop," Nelson said. "And we developed Tom Sawyer's, which is a waterfront bar and restaurant."
Tom Sawyer's has already established a steady customer base.
"We've been very pleased," Nelson said. "It's our first year of operation so we don't have a benchmark, but certainly the summer months was terrific because we had a wonderful summer and the outside deck certainly makes a difference."
Nelson's new bar and grill is one of 33,000 new businesses that opened in Wisconsin last year. According to the state's Department of Financial Institutions, that's a 2.3 percent increase from 2010.
"We've changed some corporate tax policy in the last year, that has certainly helped people, willing to explore," said Dick Granchalek, president of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce. "And unfortunately unemployment pushes people into saying, 'Ok, what can I do on my own?'"
Nelson says he didn't have many concerns opening a new business because of the strong local interest...and so far...he hasn't been disappointed.
"We have great community here and we have hard working people," Nelson said. "And people like to spend money and have fun. And if you provide the right recipe for fun, those who do, are going to do well."
