Big plans underway for the Antlers

By Bri Brasher 
NLJ Reporter
 
Now under the ownership of Chris and Pam Gualtieri, the Antlers Hotel is undergoing yet another renovation in its storied life on Newcastle’s Main Street. 
Pam visited with the News Letter Journal about her plans for the historic building, a place she said she’s always loved and felt a connection. In fact, she and Chris shared their first wine date at the Antlers. Now, after several years of thinking about purchasing the old hotel, the couple signed the papers and are in the process of putting their own touches on one of Newcastle’s treasures.
“If I can get it the way that it is in my mind, it will definitely be a gift to Newcastle. And nobody ever wants to receive a bad gift. That's our goal — to take that diamond in the ruff and polish it up,” Gualtieri said. “I’ve always seen this vision, and it’s just perfect. It was just like I’m gonna go for it. The vision has not changed, just the time frame has.”
While the Gualtieris also own the recently renovated Pizza Barn in Newcastle, Gualtieri said “the barn” is its own gem with its rustic appeal, while the Antlers is more historical with a Victorian feel. Gualtieri said she intends to keep the two separate to preserve their differences and unique styles. 
As referenced in the News Letter Journal’s History on Main series with local historian Leonard Cash, the Antlers has served the community in many capacities over the years, often housing many businesses at once. The theme will continue for the Antlers building because Gualtieri has plans to have nine to 10 different entities running out of the space when all is said and done. 
“It would be easier to answer what are not my plans,” Gualtieri laughed. “We have a lot of plans, and we’re looking at doing more than just one thing in there. It’s not going to be done overnight.”
Gualtieri said the first entity she and Chris are tackling at the Antlers is a B&B to give the hotel feel back to the business. The B&B will be “community style,” according to Gualtieri, because there is only one living area but four bedrooms. Much work has already gone into this piece of the Antlers’ renovation, Gualtieri said. 
“It (Antlers) needs to have more than one thing going on in there, or it won’t survive,” said Gualtieri. “Everybody has a different want and a different need – different outlook on things – and so our goal is to make sure we are able to reach everybody.”
Along with the B&B, the Gualtieris plan to offer New York Italian-style deli on one side of the Antlers, with fresh sandwiches, a large salad bar and soups. Patrons will also have the option to have deli meats cut to take home. Additionally, Chicago-style foods will be offered on the bar side of the space. 
Chris is from New York and Pam is from Chicago, so the style of foods reflects their home turfs. With a bakery, a soda malt ice cream shop, a variety of candy and great coffee also on the premises, the Antlers will provide a unique dining experience.  
“What’s really unique about the deli and soda shop is that we are going to be the first vendors in Wyoming in about a 600-mile radius for the foods that we are bringing. It’s definitely unlike anything else,” Gualtieri said. 
Gualtieri also has plans to incorporate the history of the Antlers into the space with items left from the previous owners. Gualtieri said it’s important to her that the history of the Antlers be celebrated and seen by the public. 
“There’s lots of names that people will be excited to see down the line of their family,” she said. 
A mall of sorts will also be featured in the Antlers as the Gualtieris complete their upstairs renovations. She said they will start the mall out small and then move upstairs to have space for a large mall with items ranging from home décor to clothing and sporting goods. A salon may also be in the Antlers future, according to Gualtieri.
“We wanted to add to the community, not take away from anyone else. We want to complement what’s already here. So trying to look at what’s already here and bring in like 100 percent completely different,” said Gualtieri. “What you can get at Skull Creek, you can only get there; what you can get at AD Pro and Strawberry Patch, Cash Box Ceramics, Something Healthy — ours will be different. Why bring in something that’s already here?”
Each of the entities in Gualtieri’s vision will take time, but she said the B&B will be up and running as soon as possible, and things are moving quickly for the bakery, deli, and soda shop. Gualtieri also said that each of these entities is going to have its own name, and the bakery has a name that she said will be “coming out soon; that is very special to me.” Overall, however, the building itself will still be known as the Antlers because, as Gualtieri said, “no matter what we change the name to, everybody would know it as the Antlers.”
In terms of staffing, Gualtieri said she will likely have a few employees who will work at both the Pizza Barn and the Antlers, though she ultimately hopes to provide more jobs in the community. She said she has 20 employees at the Pizza Barn, and her goal is to eventually have 10-15 employees at the Antlers. Meanwhile, Gualtieri said, she will continue to juggle “her baby,” the Pizza Barn, and her “new baby,” the Antlers. 
“And just like all mothers out there, they can balance the love between their babies,” she said.
Gualtieri said she will predominately work at the Antlers during the day and the Pizza Barn at night to remain very active in both businesses. In addition to her businesses and family life, Gualtieri sits on the Newcastle City Council and serves as vice president of the Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce board. 
“I’ve been juggling, and it works for me. I love it. I love the challenge. I’m competitive against myself,” said Gualtieri. “I love to have a rush, and I think my brain doesn't know how to slow down. I’m constantly just ideas after ideas from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep.”
In addition to her go-getter attitude, Gualtieri said she is blessed with the employees she has, and she is confident that if she can’t be at one location, her staff has things handled. She and Chris like to do as much of the renovation work themselves as they can, instilling a true sense of pride in their work. Chris works at the coal mine--as he’s done for 35 years--and helps with renovations on his days off. The family’s hope is that one day their businesses will be their only work obligations. Even so, the Gualtieris are focused on what their businesses can bring to the Newcastle community more than anything else. 
“I have and Chris has talked to close friends and we get their ideas and their thoughts, and we really take that to heart when we work on a project. We know it’s not just about us, it’s about everyone because they’re the ones that are going to make us succeed or not succeed at this,” said Gualtieri. “So it’s really important for us to brainstorm with friends and family and really listen to what the community says they want and says they need. It’s been really in our plan process to meet as much as we can.”