Jake McLees, co-owner of The Arterial Bar & Grill in La Crosse | The Arterial Bar & Grill/Facebook
Jake McLees, co-owner of The Arterial Bar & Grill in La Crosse | The Arterial Bar & Grill/Facebook
The Arterial Bar & Grill in La Crosse is set to soon rebrand itself as Fork & Fable Crafthouse.
As part of an “Adios Arterial” celebration set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 21; owners Mark Branson, cousin Ryan Schlegel and Jake McLees recently announced they will be handing out door prizes and plenty of the kind of spicy chili dog treats that Arterial became known for.
The establishment, located at 1003 S. 16th St., will then close for up to three weeks for interior and exterior improvements. Upon reopening, the menu is slated to change “a little bit,” with McLees installed as the head chef after becoming part owner in October.
“We want (to keep) the bar and grill feel, with restaurant-quality food,” Schlegel told the La Crosse Tribune recently. “We specialize in handcrafted food and craft beer.”
Branson noted that there was a method to the madness when it came to settling on the new name.
“We want the identity to match the passion for exquisite food,” he said, adding that the plan calls for McLees to continue coming up with dishes that focus on locally produced, seasonal ingredients.
Named for the probable name of the main intersection of the beginnings of town approximately a century ago, Arterial has long been a part of the town history, with the bar around in some shape or form through prohibition and beyond. The current building was opened nearly two decades ago in 2003.
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