The lights are back on at a familiar spot on Front Street, marking a new chapter for a building that has served as a local cornerstone for nearly 80 years.

Rayme’s bar officially opened its doors at its new location on Dec. 30. Following a packed New Year’s Eve debut, owner Reme Privett is breathing new life into a space that many residents still associate with the historic Totem Bar.

For Privett, the move was about more than just square footage; it was about honoring the town’s past.

“I do feel like I’m keeping some kind of a tradition going,” he said. “This building has been here for different eras. I’m excited about the future because I think things are looking up for Wrangell.”

Privett closed down the old Rayme’s location on the south end of Front Street across from the Marine Service Center for the move into its new home. Rayme’s took over the Brig Bar and Liquor Store in 2007; the Brig had been in business since 1955.

The transition into new quarters comes after the retirement of Aaron Powell, who ran the Totem Bar and Liquor Store for 15 years. In a 2025 interview, Powell said the demands of the business had taken their toll. Between the daily stress of management and the rising costs of shipping, he felt it was time to step away.

“I was burned out more than anything,” Powell said, reflecting on the difficulty of maintaining a small-town institution.

The history of the site is woven into the very fabric of the community. The business lineage dates back to the 1940s. After a devastating waterfront fire in 1952, the establishment moved to its current side of Front Street. Before Fred and Leonard Angerman took over in 1961, the bar was owned by Dr. E.J. Wheeler and his wife, Dorothy, who purchased it from Wheeler’s father.

Taking over such an old structure presented immediate hurdles for Privett. Before the grand opening, the building required repairs to a leaking roof and replacement of rotting floorboards in the back.

“Stuff like that is to be expected with old buildings,” the owner noted, accepting the repairs as a necessary part of the process.

Looking ahead, there is a sense of nostalgia for the era when Front Street was the heart of a bustling “pub crawl,” with patrons moving from one end of the street to the other. The goal now is to see that level of energy return to the downtown area, Privett said.

As more businesses consider coming to the island, he said there is a shared hope that the town is on the verge of a comeback.

“I think it’s a sign that things are going well when it’s like that,” he said. “Hopefully, the town will start to grow as more businesses come here and we see more people. I think we all have a lot to look forward to.”