Green Lantern owner Carrie Van Dyke is observing her five-year anniversary with the Hardwick bar and restaurant.By Sara StrongLike any restaurant owner, Carrie Van Dyke watches the costs, such as the $1,000 heating bill. Unlike most restaurant owners, though, she doesn?t watch too closely when her regulars pour their own coffee and toss the change by the till."It?s not the most profitable business, but it?s fun," Van Dyke said. The Green Lantern is a fixture in Hardwick and could be considered the social hub of the town. People gather there for everything from prime rib dinners to a simple lunch. They go for coffee, or shots of tequila.Early morning coffee groups come in to chat and play cards or dice as soon as the doors are open. The pace holds steady until lunch, and then there?s time to approach before the afternoon coffee crowd comes in at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, for example, the afternoon crowd was settling in with their fresh cups of coffee just as cookies were coming out of the oven at 2:50 p.m. Later, the after-work crowd shows up for drinks and small talk."I think it?s warm, friendly and it makes people happy and comfortable to come in here," Van Dyke said.December is Van Dyke?s five-year anniversary with the Green Lantern, but she just became owner. She is also introducing a new face, Ryan Bullerman, behind the bar.Van Dyke is taking the change of ownership (purchased from her brother, Dan Kern) as a whole new start. She?s revamping the menu and hoping that she can spend even more time on "quality control" in the kitchen with Bullerman managing the bar area.She?s uncovered a portion of the old hardwood floors and original tin ceiling tiles, and has more plans to make the back dining room a special gathering place.Running a restaurant and bar in Hardwick wasn?t what she planned for herself when she was taking finance classes at college."I heard about the place, and I thought it?d be fun to be in a family business, and I got attached to the people," Van Dyke said,"The town is what attracted me here, and I?m quite attached to everyone. I get teary-eyed thinking of them. ? There?s been a lot of bad news and lots of deaths in Hardwick this year."She considers her customers a part of her extended family and friends.Her actual job duties are rewarding for her, too."I love cooking, and I like the private parties and decorating for them. I really enjoy specialty dining. I want to make everything homemade and good. My family is like a bunch of food critics, so I?ve learned."I came in wet behind the ears, but I learned through trial and error. I?m very thankful to the loyal customers and the hard-working help," she said.The steak house is open Friday and Saturday. Otherwise, the bar and café are open daily.
