By Jon Show – It might be in name only, but the “Rudder” is back — sort of.

Robyn and Kevin Hefner, two longtime Lake Norman residents, purchased The Tropicana on West Catawba last summer from previous owners. They recently unveiled a series of extensive interior and exterior renovations and a new name: Rudder & Rose.

“People loved the Rudder around here, and they were so sad when it closed,” Robyn said. “We’re not trying to copy anything or ride the coattails of the old Rudder, but we wanted to pay homage to it and maybe bring back some of those memories.”

The couple met at the old Rusty Rudder on the Fourth of July in 2014. The raucous lakeside tavern, once located in the space now occupied by Hello, Sailor, closed in 2016 when its lease was not renewed.

They later reunited and were married four Octobers ago in a Halloween-themed wedding centered around roses and sugar skull face paint.

When they purchased the bar and restaurant, they wanted a new name to help launch the concept. Robyn, known to friends as “Rockin’ Robyn,” or RR, wanted a name that reflected her nickname and the theme of their wedding.

After considering several options, they chose Rudder & Rose. The logo features a ship’s wheel and a skull with a long-stemmed rose between its teeth, creating a brand mark befitting of the Rudder’s heritage.

“Kevin says I’m the rose in the equation,” Robyn said jokingly.

The West Catawba location, most recently known as “The Trop,” has had multiple names over the years, including The Graduate, Laketown Tavern and Kat’s Seafood. The previous owners rebranded it as The Tropicana in 2023 after the original location up the street closed due to a fire a year earlier.

While the new sign out front makes for a good story, the couple has spent thousands of dollars overhauling the restaurant with a goal of making it a live music and sports destination.

Upgrades include new flooring and bars, a redesigned balcony and additional loft seating, a renovated stage, a stamped concrete patio with pergola, outdoor games and a large fire pit. Extensive bathroom renovations are also in the works.

The kitchen is currently closed as it prepares for a full renovation this summer and the debut of a new menu focused on bar food classics. The plan is for the kitchen to be fully operational by football season.

Nightly entertainment offerings are as equally ambitious as the renovation, including open mic nights, line dancing, DJs and a full schedule of live music, as well as nightly drink specials.

Response on social media and elsewhere has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The Trop and the Rudder were staples of Cornelius when I moved here in 2005,” said Dawn Lynn, a Lake Norman resident.

“I think it’s awesome to be able to say ‘Let’s go to the Rudder’ again.”