Riverview Church Coming to Old Lacey J's Site

The building on the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Woodside Avenue in Santee, known for most of its history as the Wagon Wheel dance hall and bar, and most recently as Lacey J's Roadhouse Saloon & Grille, will soon be occupied by an entirely new operation—a church.

Riverview Community Church, which began as a family prayer group in 2010 and currently meets at Cajon Park School, started a lease at the property at the beginning of January and plans to open for services Easter Sunday.

“Riverview is the kind of church that you can come into with zero church experience and feel like you belong,” said Pastor Todd Tolson in a previous article about the church. “And also if you’ve got a lot of church experience you can walk right in and feel fed."

“One of the things we’re looking to do is really make an impact on the community,” said Bob Surber, an elder at the church.

The property has changed hands and names several times in the past 70 years, acting originally as an Army ice cream parlor, dance hall and bar. The building and land are deeply rooted in Santee’s history and local nostalgia, according to an article written by the Santee Historical Society.

Riverview Church will join the more than 20 places of worship in Santee.

Visit the Riverview Church Facebook page or website

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