Mount Horeb’s Skal Public House closed Saturday, according to the Wisconsin State Journal, making way for a new occupant. Brian and Kim LaDow opened Skal in May 2018 and during the COVID-19 pandemic put around $20,000 into beautifying a neighboring service alley for outdoor dining before the village stopped allowing its use. The LaDows cited inflation and staffing issues among other reasons for the restaurant’s closure as well.
Nathan Mergen, who owns the 107 State restaurant on Madison’s State Street, signed a lease Thursday to rent the Mount Horeb space for an Italian-American restaurant he expects to open by late May. He says he may call it Bar Manzo.
Mergen expects some adjustments to the space’s bar, kitchen, lighting, and decor, but renovations will be minimal. There will be some crossover between 107 and the new restaurant, but common offerings will be limited.
