A local businessman has big plans for his recently purchased restaurant. He’s sinking $250,000 to remodel and expand the facility. He plans on hiring about 70 people and is teaming up with one of the best markets in town to supply the meat. He’s also changing the name of the restaurant from “Spokes” to the “Route 20 Outhouse.”
The owner says, “Changing the name to Route 20 Outhouse partly refers to Highway 20 (the location). ‘Roadhouse’ was already taken, and this building is “on the outskirts of Racine, so I said, well, ‘Outhouse.’”
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. 
Unless he transforms the Motorcycle themed “Spokes” into an incredible dining experience that becomes a word of mouth machine, the mental images associated with outhouses are going to negatively affect his table turns. “Let’s go out to dinner at the Outhouse, two holes, no running water, and the Sears and Roebuck catalog to read while you wait.
This isn’t the only “Outhouse” around. There’s a bar in northern Wisconsin, a restaurant in Toronto, a place in Fort Myers and someone has trademarked the name “Outhouse” for a restaurant in Ohio.
I hope he succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. I also hope he changes his mind about the name.
