Hard work pays off for a Combined Locks couple

Heather Graves

Staff

August 10, 2023

COMBINED LOCKS – What many saw as a deteriorated 1960s Shasta camper abandoned in a field in southern Wisconsin, Patrick and Bethany Rothe saw as potential.

“When I saw it, I knew that was it,” Patrick said.

After a much-needed remodel, which Patrick said was made possible thanks in part to YouTube, and months – 13 to be exact – of hard work, the once-forsaken camper became The Vintage Hitch Company, a for-hire, private bartending company housed in a 12-foot-by-6-foot refurbished camper.

A nurse by trait – a job he still holds – Patrick said the idea behind The Vintage Hitch Company was sparked by his interest in craft beer and a desire to do something different.

“I wanted to do something unique and different than businesses around here had,” he said. 

Something different
Patrick said the concept is more popular in southern states (weather-related, of course), but only a handful existed in the Badger State.

“So, I rolled the dice, kept researching and set out on a mission to find a trailer,” he said.

Through his research, Patrick said he found a business called Tap Truck, which refurbishes old vehicles into beer tap trucks – which can also be driven.

However, admitting he doesn’t know much about cars, Patrick said that route wasn’t the right fit.

Bethany and Patrick Rothe

“If it broke down, I would have no idea how to fix it,” he said. “I continued to research and found some people doing camper bars – some were even using horse trailers.”

The idea led to Addison – a small town in Washington County – and a 1964 Shasta.

“(The previous owner) used to haul around his DJ equipment in it,” he said.

Patrick said the camper’s journey home from Addison was an adventure of its own.

The first night, he said, was spent on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere after getting a flat tire only to realize the spare tire was flat, too.

Twenty-four hours, three tire shops and a sleepless night in a gas station parking lot later, The Vintage Hitch made it home.

Patrick said while the outside gave the impression of what he was looking for, the inside, not so much.

“It was run down,” he said. “There was shag carpet and mouse droppings, there was water damage – it was a mess. It was probably sitting in that field for a decade-plus.”

But, Patrick said he was committed to making the dream he had in his mind a reality.

“I didn’t know where to start,” he said. “I watched a couple of YouTube videos of people who have done the same. So, it was a lot of learning on the fly.”

Patrick said he anticipated the remodel to take about a month.

“I remember getting in and thinking, ‘it’d be nice to have this ready next month so we can get things started,’” he said. “It was like 13 months later we got done with it. So, it was a lot more challenging than I expected it to be, but it turned out well. The vision we once had became a reality.”

The story behind the mobile bar’s name, Patrick said, was much simpler.

“It was the first thing that came to my mind,” he said. “I looked at the trailer and said, ‘wow, that’s old, that’s a vintage trailer.’ Then I started saying vintage and hitch together and it stuck. It wasn’t some grand moment for me – it was the first thing that came to my head and felt right.”

Offerings
Due to Wisconsin state law, Patrick said The Vintage Hitch cannot sell alcohol directly to the consumer – therefore customers are responsible for the purchase of all alcohol.

“Because we’re mobile, we can’t get a liquor license – so we can’t provide/sell any alcohol to anybody,” he said. 

Though, Patrick said they are willing to help estimate how much is needed based on what they are planning to offer.

“How we work is people contact us for a wedding or an event and we show up with the mixers, the garnish, the trailer, the ice – literally everything else you need for a wedding except the alcohol,” he said. “So, they’re basically hiring us for our services.”

Patrick said The Vintage Hitch Company works mostly weddings but has also worked anniversaries, birthdays and backyard summer parties.

Doris – a refrigerated tap trailer joined The Vintage Hitch lineup last year. Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Hitch Company

“We stay pretty busy with those,” he said.

A new asset added to the business last year, Patrick said, was Doris – a refrigerated tap trailer.

“You rent the trailer, we pick up the kegs of beer for you, drop it off, set it up and pick it up the next day,” he said.

Right now, Patrick said he attends every event.

“My wife, when she’s available, helps out as well – she’s probably there 70% of the time,” he said. “My 19-year-old daughter does quite a bit, as well as one other employee. So, it’s really just me, my wife, my daughter and one other employee.”

The small, family aspect of the business, Patrick said, is what helps set The Vintage Hitch apart.

“We thrive on personal interaction,” he said. “We don’t want to just get a booking from somebody and then leave it at that and show up a year later at their wedding.”

Patrick said he likes to get to know his customers during the months leading up to an event.

“I like to get to know the bride and groom,” he said. “I like to interact with them throughout the year. From the time they inquire about our services to their wedding, I’ll reach out to them seven or eight times to see how everything’s going, see if you have any questions or see if there is anything I can do to help with the planning. Trying to get on that personal level, but also making it more of a unique experience itself.”

Branching out
About two years ago, Patrick said he began making cocktail syrups – something to keep him busy during The Vintage Hitch Company’s winter off-season months.

“I was looking for different types of cocktail syrups – trying to up my cocktail game and there’s really nothing local,” he said. “All I found was mass-produced cocktail syrups.”

“So, I made one syrup and that was just regular simple syrup – sugar and water,” he said. “Then I started expanding into different flavors and styles – I have about six or seven different syrups right now.”

Recently, The Vintage Hitch was recognized by Wisconsin Bride Magazine as the best mobile bar in the state – something Patrick Rothe said showed them what they’ve been doing is getting noticed. Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Hitch Company

Patrick said the syrups are in a variety of different establishments throughout the area – including Tipsy Taco in Appleton, The Local Lounge in Hilbert and Lamers Dairy.

“We’re trying to get to as many places as we can,” he said. “The unfortunate part is that people don’t really know what syrups are used for – so, that is the wall I am trying to break through. However, honestly, I’ve exceeded what I was hoping to get through the last two years.”

Best of 2023
Recently, The Vintage Hitch was recognized by Wisconsin Bride Magazine as the best mobile bar in the state – something Patrick said he didn’t think would ever happen.

“I was excited to just be a finalist, and then to go to the award ceremony in Milwaukee and be announced the winner – that was great,” he said. “It was one of those things that showed us all the hard work we’ve done paid off. Awards will come and go, and I don’t get hung up too much on awards – but that one felt like a win for me.”

Broke out of his shell
Patrick said not only has The Vintage Hitch provided his family with a sustainable, successful business, but it also provided him with an opportunity to break out of his self-described introverted shell.

“I have been very much an introvert,” he said. “I’m comfortable in my routine and comfortable with how my day goes. I don’t tend to take a whole lot of chances.”

Next to marrying his wife, Patrick said starting The Vintage Hitch Company was one of the biggest chances he’s taken in his life.

“It was completely out of my comfort zone,” he said. “So, for me to do this for myself and for my family and to take a different direction – was cool. Some of my proudest moments are being able to get out of that introvert level and be more of an extrovert when I’m talking to customers or clients or dealing with people at the bar and just having chaos. That’s been fun.”

What’s next for Vintage Hitch?
Patrick said at this point, The Vintage Hitch is a side business with him and his wife still working full-time – him as an operating room registered nurse and her as a physician assistant.

What the future holds, Patrick said, “we’ll see.”

“When we first started, I said I wanted to get more trailers, more trailers, more trailers and leave my nursing job, which would still be nice to do (maybe at some point),” he said. “What kind of trailer? I’m not sure exactly.”

Owner Patrick Rothe said he attends/works at every event. Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Hitch Company

?One thing Patrick said he knows for sure is it won’t be another camper.

“That was difficult to do,” he said. “The tap trailer is a good idea – people rent it out and then immediately you’re making money when you aren’t even there.”

Patrick said in the future, he’d like to have more of both options.

“But also, I’m a firm believer in everything is a stepping stone,” he said. “When I was a nurse, I wanted to do something different, so I started working at a brewery. Working with a brewery gave me the idea of the hitch. I’m always questioning, ‘okay, so what’s next after this?’”

Starting a business is difficult, Patrick said – especially launching in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Obviously, that wasn’t the greatest start, which was a bummer,” he said. “I would have been happy with two events, but we actually got more. We have continued to go up in revenue every year – this is our fourth year in business. So, so far so good, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.”

For more information on The Vintage Hitch Company, visit vintagehitchcompany.com.