By Vicky Wedig
Editor
Delavan resident Mike Barkes plans to officially open a marina on the former Maxxx Motorsports property by Labor Day.
Barkes is leasing the Highway 50 parcel from Hershel H. Herrendorf, who bought the site earlier this year from Randy Loch, who operated Maxxx Motorsports there through the 2010 season.
The Delavan Town Board’s Administrative Committee recommended a liquor license for the property – formerly Sportsman’s Park – on Aug. 6. The Town Board was expected to consider the liquor license Tuesday.
Barkes, a former Kunes Country Auto Group sales associate, said if the liquor license is approved, he expects to have a grand opening for his business, Boats R Us, over Labor Day weekend.
Boats R Us already is renting water craft including fishing boats, wave runners and pontoons and will offer a full-service bar, sales, service indoor and outdoor storage and pier slip rental. Barkes said the property has 16 slips, and he hopes to expand to 30 by next season.
The former Maxxx Motorsports building was refurbished with new siding, windows, flooring and paint and a new bar.
Maxxx Motorsports opened a new location visible off Interstate 43 in Darien in 2006. Loch said he operated both businesses but opened only seasonally in Delavan until last summer when the site was rented out for the Inlet dredging project.
