Stan changes plan, puts local inn up for sale

It appears Stan Lerner is leaving Winfield in the same spur-of-the-moment fashion with which he arrived this summer.

The L.A. director, writer and restaurateur has put the Iron Gate Inn – a local bed and breakfast at 1203 Ninth – up for sale, just a few months after purchasing it. The asking price is $150,000.

In September, Lerner began serving lunch and dinner at the inn, in addition to offering rooms. But recently, a for-sale sign has gone up at the property and Lerner told his Internet followers that he would continue to run the inn only until he honored a few remaining bookings.

“People have started asking why Iron Gate is up for sale and the answer is pretty simple,” he said on his public FaceBook page. “Although I love Iron Gate I haven’t been able to buy a restaurant in Winfield and Iron Gate on its own can’t keep me busy enough. I did ask to meet with the economic development committee, hoping to work out a way to make the improvements necessary to do weddings, add a commercial kitchen and so on, but I never heard back from the board, so there’s no choice but to move on.”

Lerner did not return a call from NewsCow seeking comment.

In recent weeks, Lerner said he has been cooking at restaurant space in Guthrie, Okla. His future long-term plans are unclear at this point.

This summer, in an interview with NewsCow, Lerner discussed long-term plans for the inn and had been interested in adding services. That plan included adding a spa and perhaps opening a coffee shop on Main.

Lerner bought the property from former owner Diane Cook, who operated the property as a bed and breakfast for several years.