By Ben Rodgers
Editor
HOWARD – The area’s newest place to dine and drink is ready to satisfy customers – whatever their taste might be.
Narrow Bridge Brewhouse, located on Shawano Avenue in Howard at the site of the old Legends, is nearing in on one month of business after a total remodel of the building.
Currently, Narrow Bridge is just hitting its stride.
Scott Vann, co-owner of Narrow Bridge and Plank Road Pub & Grill in De Pere, with his brother Shaun Van Enkenvort, co-owner, as front house manager at both locations, brought on Laura Rebarcheck as chef and general manager in Howard.
“We got the right people in place here and we are getting started on the right foot with some of the most caring people who truly care about what they do,” Vann said.
It’s the staff of 37 that help Narrow Bridge accomplish what Vann and Van Enkenvort are hope to accomplish.
“When these doors open at 11 a.m., we’re very much a restaurant serving the lunch crowd and when you come in at 2 p.m., we’re very much a pub for the happy hour crowd, having cocktails after work,” Vann said. “Then around 5 and 6 p.m., we’re that place where you can get some dinner before a show at the Resch Center. Then later into the night on Friday and Saturday, we’re a local entertainment spot.”
Vann said the key to success is keeping busy and offering customers something unique.
“To bring something big like this to a community, you have to be successful at all hours of the day,” he said.
Each day that starts with the lunch crowd.
Vann called Rebarcheck’s salads “creative” and her sandwiches “interesting and fun.”
He recommends the grilled cheese with roasted pears and bacon.
“She takes something very familiar and presents it in a way that’s not abstract and confusing, just fun and delicious,” Vann said.
When the lunch crowd peters out, patrons come in after work and take advantage of happy hour from 2-6 p.m.
“After work it’s a place where people can come in and shake dice at the bar, or have a glass of wine and share a charcuterie board,” Vann said.
The dinner crowd can taste Rebarcheck’s entree creations, which include steaks priced under $30, red snapper and more.
“The pork shank is this big, beautiful piece of meat with a tomato demi-glace served on a bed of couscous,” Vann said.
Then on the weekends, entertainment takes the stage, with acoustic music on Friday and full bands on Saturday.
“It’s interesting to watch some of these bands that are so good, but when you put them on a stage that’s a little elevated, people see them a whole lot bigger,” Vann said.
Narrow Bridge also puts on trivia hosted by America’s Pub Quiz at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
“No matter what time you come here, you’re going to find your experience unique, entertaining and fun,” Vann said.
Narrowbridge and Plank Road also want to help the community and are currently selling a limited number of raffle tickets for a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Tickets are $100 and only 500 will be sold. Aside from the bike, there are also 25 other prizes.
All proceeds will benefit Eye Heart World.
“They are a wonderful organization that combats human trafficking right here in the 920 (area code),” Vann said.
As Narrow Bridge continues to grow, Vann said its Facebook account will continue to grow along with it, eventually offering an up-to-date schedule of what’s happening.