NAME: Pete Prekeges
AGE: 50
OCCUPATION: Owner of Grumpy's and the Silver Dollar Saloon/Sanitation Engineer
HOMETOWN: Spokane, Washington
YEARS IN SUN VALLEY: 23
SVM: What is your typical morning like?
Pete: I usually grab a coffee and banana from Giddy-Up Coffee, one of the best-kept secrets in the Valley. I make my Bellevue rounds, say hi to Martin Chandler at Guffy’s, then head to Ketchum.
SVM: What do you do for lunch?
Pete: I head into Wrap City and ask, “What’s in the hopper?” They give me a half wrap—I don’t care what it is—and then I go play my noon hockey. That’s an important part of my life. For 12 years, every Wednesday I have rented the ice at the Sun Valley ice rink and invited 30 ex-SUNS or good hockey players to skate for an hour. People like Hawk, Sluggo, Heans, Stoney, Eggie, Danglin’ Dickie Nelson, the Mahoney brothers. We’re the SUNS retirement party. After that, I sneak over to the Casino for a Bud can (or two). My wife, all the hockey players, my employees, all know that’s where to find me at 1:30pm.
SVM: What do you like to do with the family?
Pete: Afternoon is family time. My daughter Faye, who is 12 going on 27, walks home from the Middle School and George takes the bus home from The Sage School. The Sage School is perfect for George—he has a man-crush on Harry Weekes. Who wouldn’t? I do, too. George goes to train at Soo Bahk Do with Oliver Whitcomb in Hailey and Faye goes to swim with Brian Gallagher at the YMCA. When the kids are off doing that, the wife Molly and I go to “The Christy” for cocktails and apps—escargot and a martini up with two olives. Lately, I’ve been ordering Revolution Vodka martinis. It’s produced in Idaho and it’s veteran-owned. We at Grumpy’s are huge supporters of Higher Ground. My favorite thing to do if it’s a Friday night at 5pm is hit the Pio, because you see all the old-timers. Then we pick up the kids and we go home and feed ‘em and then I try to snuggle with my Molly, my business partner and wife. Without her I’d be pushin’ a shopping cart in Santa Monica, with a scarf on, mumbling to myself.
SVM: What if it’s a powder day?
Pete: I hit the slopes at 9am, and I’m back to Grumpy’s at 10:30am. I can cover 12,000 feet of vertical in an hour and a half skiing by myself. If there are six inches of powder or more, I’m on my snowboard, but if there’s less, I’m on my skis. Even though it’s early, I always feel obligated to have one beer after I ski. If they’ll open early at the River Run bar, I have one at 10:45am with Chuckles [Charlie Evans] and David Lee. Then I come to work between 11am and 3pm. At 4pm, I go to see my bartender friends and have a drink with the kids—my employees—at either The Cellar or Whiskey’s. Once 4pm hits, I’m onto a tall vodka sonic [half tonic, half soda] NFL. NFL means “No Frickin’ Lime.” If you don’t know what I drink, you haven’t been bartending in this town that long.
