THE BUZZ
Buzz in review
The start
Taste of Manilla was a pandemic success story. It might have come as a surprise to many that the West Side Tasty Treat now served Filipino food, but many flocked to the place to support the delicious cuisine in a place designed for takeout, at a time when takeout was king. But the owners were clear that they weren’t abandoning the origins of West Side Tasty Treat, and you can still grab a hot dog or ice cream there, maybe at one of their Saturday jam sessions last summer. And Hoehn’s Huddle also had a bit of a surprise in store. Taking over the longloved Grand Avenue Lounge (run by a World War II veteran!), Hoehn’s Huddle brought the supper club back after it closed awhile; and, a surprise to many, it also had its own memorabilia shop.
All the new businesses we wrote about in 2021
▲ The jerk tacos are one of the many Jamaican dishes that have proven to be a hit with customers. Hoehn’s Huddle owners Daniel Hoehn (right) and partner Taushia Mugge (left) said the experience of owning their own business has been surprising to see succeed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and they feel ready for the future. (Evan J. Pretzer for City Pages)
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Well, 2021 was a weird year, and that applied to businesses as well. One of the things we had to cut during the pandemic was The Buzz, and it was something our readers missed a lot. To be clear, we didn’t cut it out entirely, but there just weren’t a whole lot of people starting new businesses during the pandemic. It wasn’t as much our staffing/advertising issues holding back buzz, it was the general lack of new businesses to write about. While we still wrote them when we came across them, there just weren’t many taking a risk during the pandemic. That changed around the middle of 2021. They started popping up again. And for the last few months, City Pages has had Buzz more weeks than not. So while it’s probably shorter than Buzz in Reviews in the past, kudos to all those entrepreneurs who took a chance at realizing their dreams. Buzz is great because it celebrates that aspect, and puts a spotlight on those creating new businesses big and small for you to check out.
by B.C. Kowalski
Not something you’d expect in a supper club, but people are flocking to the place nonetheless. Another early season delight: The storefront on the cover of Third and Grant streets sat empty for some time, but the apartments above always had tenants. But now a pair of entrepreneurs are working on transforming it into a petit hotel, something perfectly suited to the airbnb generation. It’s always nice to see an old building that sat quiet for awhile get some new life. The Wreck Room capitalized on a trend you’ve probably heard of: rooms where you pay a fee, don some safety equipment, and start smashing away. Unfortunately it looks like the Wreck Room closed recently. You’ll have to get out of town to get your smash on. You probably remember it as the old A&W, but Los Victors transformed the place into a Mexican food haven. People have raved about the food and it’s made a
real go of the business out the place that also sat empty for some time. Plus, it still has that classic A&W look.
The return
When JN Creations opened up in the Third Street Lifestyle Center (which many probably still know by its old name “Washington Square”), it seemed to kick off a period when new businesses started to become more common again. JN Creations is a little shop in the center selling the artwork of Julie Navarro. Not only can she make custom artwork and has a variety of styles in her small shop, but she also carries high-quality art supplies, based on her years of searching for the best materials. And a new owner of an old bar, now called 101 Pub, came into business. The owner told City Pages he was planning to keep the neighborhood bar feel it always had, and a trip to the place seemed to lend credence to that. He also had plans for the
place, including adding live music. On the other hand, the owners of Frostman Fish Market announced they were closing after ¾ of a century in business. They sold the business to Merrill Distributing, and one of the family members would still stay on and help out. One of the ongoing stories of the year was where all the businesses that were in the mall had gone. The From Laos to America museum reopened in the Third Street Lifestyle Center, all the way at the end of the west hallway by the Chamber of Commerce’s offices. The product of founder Jim Harris, who has made numerous trips to Laos and Cambodia, it’s full of artifacts from Hmong history. It’s no secret that your author here loves bikes, so I was excited to see Gina Cornell’s story about Matt Bollenbaugh and his bike shop All About Bikes. Bollenbaugh has since done some work for Ebike Escape, a local YouTube channel about ebikes, and is a great go-to for bike repairs.
New Years Eve!! SERVING: 4:00—9:00 Serving Saturday Menu! (Seating will be similar to Weekday & Saturday Nights)
* Make your reservations soon!!
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CiTY PAGES
December 30, 2021 - January 6, 2022
Listen to the Morning Wave with Craig Collins on weekdays for your cue to call in and qualify. You might also become an instant qualifier at our Miller Lite Green Bay Football Parties. See wavlfm.com for the schedule. Actual prize awarded may differ from pictures shown. Must be 21 or over to enter.
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SPECIALS: 5 oz. Steak & Shrimp $17.00 | 12 oz. Prime Rib $18.00 9 piece Shrimp $17.50 | 10 oz. New York Strip $15.50 Ribs & Prime Rib $19.00 Along with regular Saturday Menu
