By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter

BUCYRUS — For over five decades, Larry Williams has been in the bar business and is planning to retire in July. The long-time owner of the Crazy Fox Saloon and Hotel Weaver has already handed over the reins of the hotel to local businessman and Executive Director for the Crawford County Solid Waste Management District and Crawford County Recycling Center, Brian Rockwell.

Williams has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. After moving to Bucyrus from West Virginia with his family when he was a teen boy, he secured a paper route.

“I delivered the Columbus Dispatch. I delivered to many of the downtown businesses, which included several bars. I was only about 14 years old,” Williams said.

By the time Williams was in high school, he was mowing about 30 yards a week in Bucyrus.

“I had two or three jobs at a time. I would get off work at one and head straight to the next one,” Williams said.

When he was 21-years-old, Williams took a job at Lake Erie for a free place to stay.

“I met girls there, lots of them,” said Williams with a smile. “I also realized how much I loved being behind the bar.”

Williams purchased his first bar, The Gaslight, in Upper Sandusky in the late 1970s and re-named it, Larry’s Disco in the Sky.

“It had a disco upstairs and go-go girls downstairs. It was last in sales when I took it over and five weeks later, it was number one,” Williams said.

On March 21, 1981, Williams and a partner purchased what is now the Crazy Fox Saloon.

“The bar was called The Plaza, and the hotel was the Weaver Arms,” Williams said.

Williams took over the bar and hotel on April Fools’ Day that year.

“I was sitting in the bar with three good-looking ladies when one of my friends came in. He asked me what I was going to rename the bar. I said well, people know me as being crazy and there sure are some foxes in here. We decided to call it the Crazy Fox,” Williams said with a laugh.

Williams said he juggled being the owner of two bars for only a short time.

“My goal had been to own five bars but owning two at the same time was overwhelming. I sold the one in Upper and focused on the Crazy Fox because I wanted to be in Bucyrus,” he said.

Williams said his partner, Elmer Kafer, did a lot of work remodeling the bar.

“Elmer and his son, Jim, did a lot of work to the bar,” Williams said. “He signed it over to me a few years later.”

Williams said the bar is known for its delicious cheeseburgers, including the Al Capone burger and the Fox Burger, and breakfast items.

“I only buy the best foods for our menu and for 37 years, we have had one of the best records with the health department. We have never had a bad review,” said Williams. “Also, we are one of very few restaurants that the customer can watch us cook your food.”

Williams said the bar evolved into a biker bar because of his customers.

“Our customers, like Rick McWaters of Cycle Tech, had a lot to do with it,” Williams said.

When it comes to the hotel portion of the business, Williams said he has always tried to help others.

“I love people and will help them out when they need it. I have hired people to work in the bar or hotel for their rent but I did not pay for their alcohol,” Williams said.

Williams said he fed people that were hungry and gave them a place to sleep when they needed it.

“These people became my friends and we have lost quite a few over the past 10 years or so. It hurts because I miss them. People like Al Yunker, I really miss them,” Williams said.

Williams has also become friends with customers, some even famous.

“We have had several famous boxers come to the bar. Robbie Knievel is a drinking buddy of mine. Love and Theft drank here after their concert at the Bratwurst Festival and actually came in before they performed and ended up wearing our T-shirts on stage,” said Williams.

Williams has offered the Speakeasy in the basement of the building for performances over the years through the Tourism Bureau.

“Our Speakeasy recently made it on the list of the top 10 in Ohio,” said Williams.

Williams, who is the father of five children and grandfather to 13, said he has owned property in Florida to visit for some down time with his fiancé, Chery Kiess, but wants to see the country.

“It’s time for me to retire and do some traveling,” Williams said.

Williams said the bar business is in his blood and he will miss it, though.

“We are like family here. I love the people, I loved being in the bar business. I wouldn’t go back and do anything differently,” Williams said.