There may have been different captains over the years at Captain Mikes, but new owners Jeanette and Michael have kept the things which have spelled success in the past – the great crew, delicious food, and ice cold beer.
But everything can use a little fine-tuning sometimes, and Jeanette and Mick have brought some of their own style to this legendary establishment. Improvements in both the building itself and expanding on the delicious menu, returning this downtown favorite to legendary status. Each week they create a unique combination of flavors to stuff and top their amazing burgers. or the creamy mac ‘n cheese. Follow them on Facebook to see what they’ve created this week. Gin is IN! Stop in on Mondays for 1/2 price gins and test your knowledge at Trivia. Come in on Tuesdays for a longtime classic – Beer Bingo. On Wednesday, celebrate beers of Wisconsin with $1 off all Lakefront & New Glares beers. Every Thursday, enjoy the music of Matt Meyer. It’s Fitz Friday’s every week with $5 Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. On the weekends, come in for their fantastic breakfast specials, served up every Saturday and Sunday from 8 – 11am.
Owners Mick and Jeanette sat down with us for this exclusive Q&A
Q. Tell us about your first job in the restaurant industry?
Mick: Mine was at my uncle’s Italian restaurant on the West Coast of Ireland. They had the best pizza I’ve had in Ireland and could probably even hold their own in Kenosha.
Jeanette: I was a hostess at a diner seating guests for breakfast on Sundays and offering coffee… regular or decaf?
Q. What is your favorite part about owning/running a restaurant?
Mick: Has to be the people, whether it’s customers, staff, vendors, etc. – owning a restaurant really integrates you into the community.
Jeanette: The food truck has been an interesting new twist! We are now bringing the joy of our food and brand to people’s homes and work places, which is fantastic.
Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?
Mick: It seems like there’s a new challenge each day. I won’t go into the obvious issues that everyone is facing right now, however the supply chain issues are tough to deal with at the moment.
Q. What is the experience like for customer when they come to your restaurant/bar?
Mick: Beer, whiskey, gin, burgers and mac and cheese served by our awesome staff! Oh and we have a lighthouse!
Q. With the challenges of the current economy, what steps have you taken to continue to drive your business forward?
Mick: Our first step was buying the food truck so that we’d be able to keep going even if there was another lock down. The Captain Mike’s food truck, known as The Galley, is really it’s own business now with all the pop ups and events we do.
Q. What makes your business stand out from others or what is something that makes it particularly unique?
Mick: We’ve won Best Burger in Kenosha for the past 3 years so that’s definitely a stand out. Jeanette: We also have a killer gin selection that we’re constantly adding to. Gin is In!!
Q. How do you cope with the everyday pressures of the business?
Mick: A lot of Hot Yoga
Jeanette: A lot of snuggles with Ralphie (our dog).
Q. What advice would you give other entrepreneurs/managers/owners that are just starting out?
Mick: Owning a business takes over your life. You breathe, sleep and eat it every day but it’s very rewarding when your vision and hard work comes together. Make sure you have a passion for what you’re doing so it doesn’t really feel like work.
Jeanette: Being on the premises and involved is very important. I was on the food truck a lot this past summer and so many customers said how pleasantly surprised they were that I was on there, it truly make a difference.
Q. What is your most popular menu item?
Mick: Our Mac and Cheese stuffed burger, The Shopping Cart is right up there.
Jeanette: Cheese Curds – We do live in Wisconsin right?
Q. What is your personal favorite menu item?
Mick: Our skillets on the weekends for breakfast are amazing. We make homemade potato pancakes and that is a side option I always choose.
Jeanette: I love the Kittyland shrimp from our menu.
Q. How long have you owned/managed your establishment?
Mick: It’ll be 3 years this July
Q. How often do you come up with new menu items? And how do you come up with the items?
Mick: Every week we do a new burger, mac and cheese and gin cocktail of the week (half price gin on Mondays)
Jeanette: We also just revamped our breakfast menu and roll that out the first weekend in February. Breakfast is served every Saturday and Sunday from 8am-11am.
Q. Tell us a little about yourself, what do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
Mick: I also work full time as a commercial insurance agent which most people don’t know. As for fun, owning a bar in Downtown Kenosha is all the fun either of us need!
Jeanette: Supporting our other local business owners of course, also heading out to Lake Geneva to visit my parents in the summer is always a nice little get away.
Q. What do you love about Kenosha?
Mick: The people and living by Lake Michigan
Jeanette: There are so many great things about Kenosha. I am a transplant, I went to Carthage College and then stayed around after I graduated. Kenosha has the larger community aspects with a small town feel. The Lake Michigan lakefront, the museums, the local music, the events in the summer and of course all of the friends and people I have met in Kenosha. I (we) am so grateful to have made Kenosha our home.
Q. What’s next for your establishment?
Mick: We have a pretty cool new space opening up soon but we’ll tell more about it when it’s ready. Watch out for this space!
Jeanette: Oh geeze… I am always movin’ and groovin’… This industry is always changing, so I am always trying to watch what is trending or what is going to be the next popular thing on, whatever the kids are calling it these days on “Tik Tok.”
Capt. Mikes Beer & Burger Bar is located at 5118 6th Ave.
captainmikespub.com
Follow Capt. Mikes on Facebook, Instagram
Q&A & concept by Donny Stancato
Edited by Jason Hedman
Photos by Donny Stancato & the Capt. Mikes social media pages.
