Richfield, WI – Vicki Bilda is the proud new owner of Big Red, the West Bend Lithia beer truck.
Big Red was a passion project created by entrepreneur Gunter Woog. In 2006 Woog saved the Lithia Trademark for West Bend
Vickie Bilda from Bilda’s Friess Lake Pub, 4493 State Road 167, Hubertus, purchased the beer truck and said it is a perfect fit.
“I love Gunter’s vision of what he saw and that vision and potential is what we need out in this marketplace,” she said.
In 2020 the clientele at Bilda’s was pushed outside. “Everybody likes being outside. So, we expanded our outside patio, then we did the lower patio,” she said. “I’m always on social media looking for new stuff and new ideas and I saw Gunter put the firetruck up for sale.”
Woog wanted to keep the truck in Washington County. “He said he wanted it to be with somebody that could help promote it to the next level. I think we can do that,” said Bilda.
Big Red is already on display at the crossroads of STH 167 and Hwy 164.
The beer truck sported a lot of creative content including logos, tap handles, along with the worlds first fire engine draft beer wagon.
Woog described his creation as the World’s Biggest and Baddest Draft Beer Wagon.
Over the weekend Bilda took ownership of Big Red.
“It’s a win win for all,” said Woog. “Staying local and viable was essential.”
Bilda said it will work well in the beer garden and for fundraisers.
She praised Woog for spending time creating such a masterpiece. “The guy is a genius,” said Bilda. “He had a vision and his vision is spot on. This truck will do a lot in this marketplace for us.”
Bilda and her husband have owned the corner bar for 15 years. Prior to that the big name everybody remembers was the Sunset View Restaurant. That establishment was in business 22 years and it was Charlie’s for 11 years and before that it was Friess Lake Ice Cream Shop.