Local Business Spotlight: Schroeder Short Stop

A year after opening its bar on the West End of Cook County, the Schroeder Short Stop continues to grow, adding new food and drink options and expanding its staff.

Owners Tim Saetre and Emma Sievers opened the Schroeder Short Stop bar just over a year ago, adding to their existing Electric Trails e-bike rental business, which is now entering its fifth summer.

The business operates out of a building on the West End that once served as a service station in the 1950s. Saetre said the renovation was a lengthy process, taking nearly two years to complete.

Today, visitors will find a bowling alley-style bar serving beer, wine, soft drinks, frozen pizzas and, more recently, pulled pork sandwiches made with meat from Baptism River Barbecue in Beaver Bay.

The bar and e-bike rental businesses have complemented each other, Saetre said. Some customers arrive to rent bikes and discover the bar, while others stop in for a drink and learn that the business also offers e-bike rentals.

Since opening, the business has also grown its staff, employing four people to operate the bar or bike rentals.

Electric Trails building and Schroeder Short Stop | Photo by Chuck Olsen

Saetre and Sievers said one of the biggest lessons they’ve learned is that building and growing a business takes time. “Everything takes longer than you think it’s going to,” Saetre said.

Despite the lengthy process of opening the Schroeder Short Stop and settling into the Cook County community, the couple said they have felt supported every step of the way.

“I can’t thank this community more for where we’re at,” said Sievers. “I just feel like people have truly been so giving and supportive of making this business happen.”

The business has become a gathering place for residents, seasonal visitors and tourists. Saetre and Sievers said many customers have connections to the building’s past, sharing stories about previous businesses that have occupied the space.

The couple also want to preserve some of the building’s history, and throughout the building’s interior have displayed old photographs and other remnants from its past.

Former Short Stop convenience store | Photo by Chuck Olsen

Over the next month, Saetre said he will be busy building a music stage on the property in preparation for an event in September.

The Schroeder Short Stop will host its first Backyard Bash on Sept. 18-20. The three-day event will feature live music, food and beverages, games, and other family-friendly activities.

Saetre said the event is intended as a community gathering for local residents, visitors, or for people who haven’t yet stopped to check out the Schroeder Short Stop.

Schroeder Short Stop is currently open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. The business is seasonal, generally opening around Memorial Day weekend and closing in October.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Schroeder Short Stop owners Tim Saetre and Emma Sievers for the latest edition of the Local Business Spotlight. Saetre and Sievers talk about their experience moving to Cook County, putting down roots, and starting a business. The owners also talk about the lessons they’ve learned since starting the business, the most rewarding aspects, and more. Audio is below.

The Local Business Spotlight highlights our local business community’s economic strength and innovation. This feature is brought to you in partnership with Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

Kalli Hawkins August 12, 2026