Бывший выпускник школы вернул легендарный ресторан «Pub at the Pinicon» в Нью-Хэмптон к жизни

Josh Schilling is back in his hometown and for that he’s thankful. Now he’s looking to make a difference at a celebrated restaurant in northeast Iowa that has been an institution in New Hampton for over 60 years. Schilling, a 2008 New Hampton High School grad, accepted the role as general manager last September at the Pub at the Pinicon – winner of the best breaded tenderloin in Iowa according to the Iowa Pork Producers back in 2019. “It just worked out that it was perfect timing for myself and my family to move up here and take over the position,” said Schilling, who was an active athlete for the Chickasaws as he participated in football, wrestling and golf coming up on two decades ago. While he savored his time on the mat, gridiron and out on the links – it’s cooking food that really is at the heart of what he does. Schilling originally worked at the “Pub” back in high school when Phil Zwanziger owned the local eatery on the south side of New Hampton. The restaurant that first opened its doors in 1963 is now under the ownership of Dale and Laura Reicks, who run Reicks View Farms – that’s where those award-winning tenderloins come from in case you didn’t know. Schilling told a story on a Wednesday afternoon about what was essentially the driving force to him returning to Chickasaw County after countless stops at restaurants all around the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metro area, as well as Dubuque. He’s worked as a line cook at the Cedar Rapids Airport, served hot plates at a hotel that reopened after the devastating flood of 2008 and also punched the clock behind the grill at a retirement home in Linn County called Cottage Grove Place. His first official manager’s job was in the Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids at Hurricane Grill & Wings. The guy can cook – as evident by his impressive resume. Schilling sat at a table in the dining room of the “Pub,” a short walk from the bar and right next to the colorful mural that adorns the back wall. It’s a painting that illustrates all the “Pub’s” past owners throughout its storied past. Call it divine intervention or it was just meant to be – but Schilling is back cooking and running a restaurant where he first started out honing his culinary skills. It was a chance encounter with Zwanziger – who was the general manager of the restaurant prior to Schilling taking over that role – at his youngest son Aiden’s wedding. “Literally, going to the wedding reception and meeting Phil, it was just perfect timing for us,” said Schilling. That set into motion one of New Hampton’s more recognizable faces the opportunity to return to his roots. Schilling and his wife, along with four kids (two sons, two daughters) were living in Coralville. Josh worked at a Carlos O’Kelly’s in nearby Iowa City, which he said was underperforming but was still reaching a standard that allowed it to continue to be open. What was a tell-tale sign that Schilling knew he made the right call to quit that manager’s job and head on back to New Hampton? That current Mexican restaurant closed its doors last fall about a month after he returned to the “Pub.” “I’m grateful for him to give me this opportunity to bring it back,” said Schilling about conversations with Zwanziger. “He knows it’s the right thing for the community and they need to keep this going.” Schilling had to chuckle at what Zwanziger told him back when he was a teenager working on the grill at the “Pub.” He would head off to Kirkwood Community College to study culinary arts and restaurant management after graduation. That’s also where he met his wife, Jess. “The funny story was why are you going off to Kirkwood when I can teach you everything you need to know in the restaurant business,” smiled Schilling. “He was always kind of one of those mentors for me. This was my first ever paying job.” Back then 18 years ago, the restaurant was called The Pinicon. There’s been some ups-and-downs in that ensuing time period for the longstanding establishment – but one constant has remained the same, the doors have always been open at the “Pub” and customers have always loved its food. “It’s always been a staple here. That’s why I did come back, because I knew that it needed somebody that was from the community to give life back into it, because they have had struggles the last few years,” said Schilling. “They’re seeing the benefits of somebody coming back and really enjoying the community. I knew the community needed this place, so I wanted to keep that going.” How much has Schilling changed on the menu at his new place of employment? Not much. He’s made some minor tweaks to the menu, but has made sure to never touch the tenderloin recipe. He said he also has kept a favorite dish – the “Pub’s” summer berry salad – along with several other entrees. Hungry patrons can also look forward to and expect freshly-baked bread – Italian oven-baked bread called focaccia. Schilling also wants his customers to enjoy a higher-end steak in New Hampton out on South Linn Avenue and not drive the 45 minutes to Waterloo to do so. “I want to see this grow into what it was and really get back involved in the community that I grew up in because they had so much support for me,” said Schilling. Josh’s zest for cooking great food started when he was a kid. He would help out his mom, Peg, create tasty dishes and he found that this just might be his calling. He keeps his mom’s memory with him forever. She sadly passed away in 2002 at the young age of just 37 years old due to a brain tumor. Josh was in the sixth grade. His two other brothers, along with his dad Brian, were devastated. “I always kept that passion as kind of a remembrance to her,” said Schilling. “She had a heart of gold. It’s kind of an homage to always keep her in our memories. I keep that passion because I would always think about all the fun times I had with her.” He said his late mom was very involved in the community. She was a Cub Scout leader. There were camp trips and athletic events. His father has been a firefighter in New Hampton for 35 years. “Truly one of the reasons I did come back is family because I was always working corporate jobs,” said Schilling, who stated he was also a manager at a Perkins in Dubuque. Schilling said his return to the “Pub” gives him more consistent time off. He says he makes it a point to be there for his kids and help guide them and encourage their interests. He helped coach one of his daughter’s soccer teams and three of his kids competed for the Chickasaw Elite Wrestling Club, of which Josh was also an assistant coach. His oldest daughter, Carmen, also works at the “Pub” and Jess is the kitchen manager. In fact, Josh doesn’t have to travel too far to walk to work. He lives in what was the old Rodeway Inn across the parking lot from the “Pub.” That building has turned into affordable housing and his living quarters are on the backside of the former motel. He said he and his family are looking to purchase a house in the future. Josh’s next step in life – where he’s back home – was the right move in his estimation. He got a little teary-eyed talking about his mom – who is obviously an inspiration and one of the reasons he’s back at the “Pub.” His mom’s memory and the success of “The Pub” mean that much to him. “That’s why I love this job and why I wanted to come back because I know what it was and want to keep it that way,” said Schilling. “I always keep that passion and I always strive to do better. My mom always raised me to do the right things.” Josh knows things don’t last forever – but doing what he loves to do and keeping a landmark at or near the top of its peak performance runs deep with him. It’s in his blood. “The sad part with it, with small-town Iowa, you’ve got to keep the ones that you have because they’re the diamonds in the rough,” said Schilling. “That’s what I love about this place. It’s a diamond in the rough for everything.”