Noon Rotary Learns About Wheat Penny

(FROM LEFT, NOON ROTARY PRESIDENT ANDREW KOESTER, MICHAEL BRUMMER AND RILEY PRUEMER OF "WHEAT PENNY", AND ROTARY WEEKLY STUDENT GUEST AVA FABER OF ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL)

Local entrepreneurs Michael Brummer and Riley Pruemer have opened "Wheat Penny", what they describe as a "speakeasy" in the basement of XCHNG at Banker and Jefferson in downtown Effingham.

Brummer and Pruemer were guest speakers at the Effingham Noon Rotary Club meeting on September 18. The venture opened September 7. There are several takes on where the name for Wheat Penny came from, but the building is the former First National Bank of Effingham, and was built in 1890, about the time the wheat penny was first minted. The pair say their business is another way to curtail young adults' plans to "move away since there's nothing to do here." Brummer said, "Maybe we can solve that" with Wheat Penny.

As is to be expected in a business referring to itself as a speakeasy, a variety of drinks are available, but "mocktails" are available, too, and there are snacks, as well. Wheat Penny operates from 3pm to midnight Monday thru Saturday. Reservations are welcomed, although not required. Wheat Penny will be participating in Effingham's Oktoberfest on October 5 downtown.

The Rotary student guest was Ava Faber, daughter of Tim and Sandra Faber and a student at St. Anthony High School. She plays basketball and softball and runs cross country and wants to play softball among her college goals.