USD Alum Purchases Carey’s Bar

The ownership of one of Vermillion’s most beloved downtown hotspots will soon change hands. But don’t expect much else about Carey’s Bar to change when Mat Zeman takes over the establishment on April 15. More than anything, the two-time USD grad (’02 B.S.E.D., ’04 M.A.) views his role is that of steward.

“This place is its own entity. I’m just here to maintain it,” Zeman said.

Zeman’s ownership of Carey’s is new, but his relationship with the place and the people there spans more than a decade. He first started working there in the fall of 1999 to help pay his way through school, and eventually continued work there through his graduate studies.
 
Following graduation, he took several jobs at USD and elsewhere, but none provided the satisfaction he felt while working at Carey’s.
 
“I’ve really enjoyed working here—it’s the best job I’ve ever had,” he said.

Part of the reason for the bar’s consistent popularity, Zeman says, is the quality of the people who work there. “A lot of good people have worked there over the years—and still do. They also tend to stay for quite a while, and I think people like to see familiar faces.”

The prospect of purchasing the bar recently came up over lunch with the previous owner, Michelle Maloney, who wanted to sell so she could focus on other endeavors. Zeman jumped at the opportunity.

“It was the right opportunity at the right time,” said Zeman.

While he’s not planning renovations to the location, Zeman says he wants to ramp up the Carey’s online presence. By mid-summer, he will offer the latest news and merchandise (t-shirts, hats, etc.) on a new website and several social networking sites. They’ll be among the first steps Zeman takes in what he hopes will be a long run.

“This is definitely a career move for me. You can’t take something like this on as a hobby,” he said.

So, the next time you’re in Vermillion, Zeman wants you to stop on by. His favorite part of working there—and the thing he’s looking forward to the most as owner—is hearing patrons’ stories and sharing their memories.

“It seems like every time I’m here, an alumnus comes in with a story about the place. It’s where they had fun during school. Some of them met their husbands or wives here. Most made lifelong friends. There’s a continuity here that people enjoy.”

In a world that often changes at break-neck speed, perhaps that isn’t so bad.