Hosting boisterous parties and serving Southern-style food comes naturally to Dodge City Bar and Grill co-owner Ray Kutch.
A longtime player in Vancouver's food and entertainment scene, Kutch started his career in the restaurant business as a youth working in his parents' establishment in his native Pennsylvania.
"Funny enough, my parents sent me to college so I could get out of the bar business," Kutch said.
After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and serving in the Vietnam War, Kutch says he traveled across the country selling heavy equipment, eventually settling in Vancouver.
Kutch and his wife, Judy, raised their three children in the area, sending them to Mountain View High School and Washington State University in Vancouver.
However, according to Kutch, he couldn't stay away from the business, and in 1992 opened the original Dodge City Bar and Grill on 18th Street at Andresen Rd. In September 2009, they moved to their current Fourth Plain Boulevard location.
Anyone familiar with the late Patrick Swayze's 1989 film, "Road House," will immediately understand the spirit of Kutch's Dodge City – albeit in a safer, updated package.
Named after the historic Kansas cattle driving town, Dodge City features food items with names inspired by its wild-western namesake, like the Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley and Doc Holliday. Dodge City also has 15 flat-screen TVs, seats nearly 400 and boasts a dance floor with about $100,000 in music and light equipment.
And though a group of partying young people predominate on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Kutch says the rest of the week is more relaxed, with an emphasis on serving tasty appetizers, sandwiches and up to 20-ounce steaks.
"Although we have a lot of regulars, and we enjoy the club atmosphere some nights, we can compete with any other sit-down restaurant as far as food goes," said Rhoda Stephens, Kutch's personal assistant.
Though Kutch says he loves the restaurant and bar business, his view of government is less positive – especially in the wake of the Washington State Legislature's recently-completed regular and special session.
"Because of the prohibition-era style legislating in Olympia, we spend about $25,000 a month on liquor. Just hard liquor, not even beer – which just got another tax hike," Kutch said, referencing the tax hike on barrels of mass-produced beer passed by the Washington state legislature.
While Kutch says that revenues and expenses have both been on the rise, he is optimistic his business will continue to succeed, especially as more Vancouver residents begin to look at home for entertainment, good food and perhaps a glass of beer. "In Vancouver we have plenty of options, and we need to get citizens reinvesting in our community."
Loyalty to town aside, this longtime Vancouver business owner inspires his own, unique following among his over 30 employees, many of whom have been with him for years. When Kutch asked bartender Donna Paranteau what she thought of the business, she responded by lifting up her pants leg – revealing a small bull on her calf, with the company's name etched underneath.
"I'm so loyal to this place, I got it tattooed on my leg," Paranteau said.
