Legerski’s aim for ‘working-man’s bar’

Floyd L. Brandt
Posted 7/18/18

ody Legerski is reopening a piece of local history – The Hiway Bar.

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Legerski’s aim for ‘working-man’s bar’

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TORRINGTON – Cody Legerski is reopening a piece of local history – The Hiway Bar. 

Cody Legerski has done some remodeling to give the bar a new shine under his new ownership. Originally opened in 1946 as a bar Legerski, with the help of his father and father-in-law has remodeled and put in eight large flat screen televisions, trying to make it more friendly to everyone. 

The Hiway Bar has the reputation of being the working man’s bar. Legerski would like the bar and restaurant to continue with this reputation. 

“I really want it to be open to everyone,” Legerski said. “It was known as the working man’s bar. I really don’t want to change that. It might not have been the cleanest place before but it was every working man’s bar.”  

They have gone through the menu deciding what they would like to keep and what modification they would like to make to the food, including making the hamburgers larger. Legerski’s father has been a big help in this area taking on the kitchen and cooking for everyone. Helping to pick the food they should serve and making the decision to work with local food venders, including The Bread Doctor for hamburger buns. 

Legerski was born in Casper, spending half of his life in Casper and half in Williston, S.D. He met his wife, Kate Johnson, in Casper while she was going to nursing school. Kate was looking for a place to rent and Legerski, being gone most of the time, was looking for a roommate and rented the house to her. They have three daughters, the youngest born on July 5 this year.

“Our backgrounds differ,” Legerski said. “We are an opposites-attract deal,” Legerski said.  

The couple came to Torrington for Christmas last year. His Kate’s father, Tom Johnson, showed them the Hiway Bar and they bought it. 

After going in front of Torrington City Council asking for a liquor license the council approved the license pending final approval from the state. The liquor license was approved on June 29, then they were approved for food on July 3. They opened for business that day.

The Legerski family will be having their grand reopening on July 21, opening for breakfast at 6 a.m. till closing at 2 a.m. They also will be keeping the liquor catering open for parties and events.