Lock 17 Bar and Grill Celebrates Grand Opening Under New Owner Jessica Coons

LITTLE FALLS — Lock 17 Bar and Grill, a longtime fixture at 16 W. Main St. in downtown Little Falls, officially has a new owner. Jessica Coons hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration at noon on Saturday, December 6, 2025, marking the next chapter for the establishment locals still affectionately call “Ed ‘n Bud’s.”

Coons, who bartended at the bar for a year under previous owner Brian, took over management while he pursued professional golf opportunities. After obtaining her own liquor license, she recently purchased the business outright.

“I bartended for Brian for a year, and then he got a position doing the pro golf and asked me if I would take it over and manage it and eventually own the place,” Coons said in a recent interview. “I finally got the liquor license, so now it’s just officially mine.”

While Coons plans to put her own stamp on the popular spot, she’s committed to preserving the traditions that have kept generations of customers coming back.

“You’ve got to keep those traditions,” she said. “My boyfriend wants to change the bar, and I told him, ‘We can’t change this bar,’ because it’s kind of like a staple.”

One beloved holiday tradition will definitely continue: Tom and Jerry cocktails at Christmastime. “We got it,” Coons laughed. “I did them last year here. … It’ll be nice that Moose will be down here to make his and maybe, maybe he’ll give me the recipe.”

Coons is already introducing minor updates, including a seasonal food menu that changes with offerings for spring, summer, fall, and winter. Building owner Lisa Scherer is renovating the kitchen and plans to install a small fryer, which will allow an expanded bar menu in the near future.

New weekly events are also in the works. “I want to do just different nights,” Coons explained. “Every other Thursday is ladies’ night … and then the other alternating one is Pitcher Pitch Thursday.” She’s also considering adding a pool table to cater to the late-night crowd and has already placed custom cornhole boards made by her boyfriend outside the entrance.

Current hours of operation are:

Closed Monday
Tuesday–Thursday: 11 a.m. until at least 9 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m. until at least 10 p.m.
Sunday: Noon until 9 p.m.

“If there are people here, then we’re going to be open,” Coons added, noting the bar often stays open later when it’s busy.

Lock 17 Bar and Grill can be reached at 315-508-5300 or Lock17barandgrill@gmail.com. Menus, events, and updates are posted on the business’s Facebook Page.

“I’ve always wanted to own my own place, and this was a perfect opportunity,” Coons said. “So I kind of jumped on it.”