Oct. 13, 2021

The father-and-son owners of a Harrisburg bar have expanded to Valley Springs.

On the Rocks owners Robert Pralguske and his son, Jonathon, have leased the 14,000-square-foot building that once housed The Broadway convenience store and cafe, opening On the Rocks C-Store, Casino & Bar.

The C-store and video lottery casino/bar are up and running.

“We’ve dropped the ceilings and made it feel more cozy,” Pralguske said. “We have white ceilings, and instead of dim lights, we installed bright ones.”

The seating area for the C-store has a couple of pool tables that might be moved into the big bar once the remodeling there is completed, he said, but, at least for now, families are coming in to play on them.

He’s hoping to have the majority of the work in the 5,000-square-foot big bar area completed by the end of the month. That space includes a stage for live music.

“We want to have a really fun Halloween party out here.”

They’ve been hosting musicians on Friday and Saturday nights on the front patio since mid-August.

On the Rocks has a full liquor license for on- and off-sale. In addition to snacks, staples and sodas, it serves Heggies Pizza and has hot dogs and Tornados, which are similar to a taquito, on a roller grill.

The town has been without a gas station for years, and Pralguske is working to open a pump at the C-store.

A company in Utah is restoring an old Phillips 66 pump, and he’s hoping to have it operational by the end of November. It will offer high-octane fuel.

“There are more improvements to come, either new vendors or new projects being completed,” he said. “It’s a work in progress.”

Hours are a “little hit-and-miss,” Pralguske said. He’s usually there by 9 a.m. daily and closes by 10 p.m. during the week and 2 a.m. on the weekends.