Bob Asmussen | 'My bar is not just a bar. It's a little bit of everything'

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When a need arises, Westville knows it can always count on Julee Gay.

For 37 years, the owner of Julees Shooting Star Tavern, 109 W. Main St., has made her business available for fundraisers, the annual Christmas toy program Santa Anonymous, funeral dinners and whatever else comes along. She is a willing partner with the community that has helped make her business a success.

"It's just something you do," Gay said. "My bar is not just a bar. It's a little bit of everything."

Including a place for Sunday services. Starting in April, the monthly Jesus on Tap is held in the parking lot.

"We worship," Gay said. "You would not believe the great feedback we have gotten from this.

"It's just a wonderful thing."

The services are held with pastor Jay Sorrell from the Vermilion Valley Vineyard in Danville.

It is one of the many non-bar activities Gay's place has embraced.

In the past, the business supported an annual ladies motorcycle ride. The first year, there were seven riders. It grew to 45 to 50 riders before Gay stepped away after 20 years.

The rides helped fund local women's shelters and C.A.R.A (Citizens for Animal Rescue and Adoption).

"It was a very big thing," she said.

Gay helps with a raffle for the Vermilion County Handicapped Association, which builds wheelchair ramps for those in need. The raffle prize is a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The giveaway concludes with an event, which is being held for the first time at Julees Shooting Star on Sept. 7.

It is the latest recognition of Gay's good works. She was the grand marshal at the most recent Westville Labor Day parade.

Where everybody knows your name

The bar itself at Julees is more than 70 feet long. During the early days of the pandemic, Gay had the entire structure replaced.

To decorate the top, she took pictures from her 60-plus photo albums.

She had the bar sanded down, glued the pictures to the new surface, then covered it with polyurethane. Who is pictured?

"People from 30 years ago to more recent," Gay said.

When younger patrons ask "Why isn't my picture included?" she has a quick answer.

"Because everybody's pictures are on their phones," she said. "This is from back when people had cameras."

All walks of life are represented. There are photos from end to end. A photo album covering 37 years.

Winding down

Gay turns 65 on June 15. She wants to retire in the next year, turning her place over to new ownership.

"I pray, pray, pray hard that whoever takes the business, they keep it in the community, and they keep the community thriving," Gay said. "I could cry. I love my town. I love what my community has done for me."

But she is not reconsidering.

"I'm ready. I've worked since I was 11 years old," she said.

She plans to spend more time with son Devin, a teacher/coach at Westville High School, his wife, Mallory, and their kids, Leo (7) and Dravin (5).

Devin teaches industrial arts, is the head track coach and a football assistant.

Gay credits longtime Westville coach and administrator Guy Goodlove for helping her son become a teacher and coach.

"My son told me, 'Mom, I didn't know what it would be like every day waking up and you can't wait to get to work,'" Gay said.

Gay's grandkids have autism, and Julee lends a hand whenever possible. That will be easier once the daily demands of the business are gone.

Her place is open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. It is open every day of the year.

There are five bartenders on the payroll. One, Debbie Saunders, has been working with Gay off and on since 1998.

"I've watched all her kids grow up," she said.

Origin story

Gay was born in Tilton, where she stayed until the seventh grade. That's when her parents, Jiggs and Beverly, moved her and sister Donna to Westville. It was a close move, as Westville is less than 5 miles from Tilton.

Beverly passed away in 2009 and Jiggs five years ago; Donna died 26 years ago.

Jiggs was an iron worker, and Beverly worked at General Motors. Both later helped Julee at the tavern. So did Donna.

Julee isn't Gay's real first name. It is Juliet, and her middle name is Ann.

In junior high, Gay was hanging out with her friend Karen, who decided to call her Julee. It stuck.

How did she become a bar owner? It's a long story.

Gay was laid off at General Motors. A friend of her father, Butch Jones, opened the Penny Bar in Westville. She worked there for five years.

Gay was 27 when Jones said it was time for her to get her own place.

"He believed in me," Gay said,

Julees opened on Feb. 27, 1987, at its original location on State Street in Westville. She moved eight years later to the current location.

Gay lives about five blocks from the tavern.