Jack Cronemeyer returned to the restaurant business a few weeks ago.

Now, he and his wife, Mary, plan to open a second bed and breakfast.

Cronemeyer confirmed Friday he was the winning bidder in an online auction for Amanna élan, a bed and breakfast in Tonganoxie.

The winning bid in the auction, which ended Tuesday, was $149,600.

Cronemeyer and his wife, Mary, have owned and operated Circle S Ranch and Country Inn north of Lawrence the past 10 years.

Jack Cronemeyer, who formerly operated Badd Jack’s Southwest restaurant in downtown Tonganoxie, reopened a restaurant — West End Cafe — at the same location roughly a month ago.

As for the bed and breakfast, Cronemeyer said he did not purchase any of the items inside the Amanna élan that were sold in a separate online auction.

However, the historic locale, which was said to inspire Kansas playwright William Inge’s “Bus Stop,” will continue as a place for lodging and special events, he said.

“We’ll keep it as a bed and breakfast,” Cronemeyer said. “We would like to do wedding receptions, sort of similar to what we do now, just a smaller venue.”