From Bank Vault to Bar: New Speakeasy Brings Unique Experience to Effingham

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WAND) — Down a quiet set of stairs inside a 150-year-old bank building in downtown Effingham, history is getting a fresh pour.

What was once the First National Bank of Effingham is now home to The Wheat Penny, a hidden speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked inside the building’s former bank vault.

“We want to transport people when they come down here,” said co-owner and operator Riley Pruemer.

The space still carries pieces of its past. Behind a heavy vault door that once secured cash and valuables, shelves now hold bottles of whiskey and liquor.

The name Wheat Penny pays tribute to both Midwestern agriculture and the building’s banking roots.

“Wheat is kind of a Midwest icon,” Pruemer explained. “And so Wheat Penny just felt right being that we are in a bank.”

Bartender Gracie Liles says the bar has quickly become a place where locals and travelers connect.

“The people I’ve met here — they’re phenomenal,” Liles said. “A huge part of our job is just connecting with these people.”

And when it comes to drinks, one stands above the rest.

“The Old Fashioned for sure,” Liles said. “I’ve heard from people from all over say we have the best Old Fashioneds, hands down.”

For Pruemer, the bar represents more than craft cocktails. It’s part of a larger effort to turn Effingham into a destination.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere on the way to everywhere,” Pruemer said. “So we like to say we’re at the crossroads of a lot of opportunity.”

And inside this historic vault, that opportunity is bringing travelers and locals together — one drink at a time.

Wheat Penny is located at 214 W Jefferson Ave, Effingham. They are open Tuesday 3PM-9PM, Wednesday - Friday 3PM-11PM and Saturday 12PM - 11PM.