The Golden Horn bar and lounge seeks to take over Tonic Tavern space in Bay View

The Tonic Tavern space in Bay View might not sit closed for long as a former employee hopes to open The Golden Horn in the space at 2335 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Bay View resident Dave Schrank has plans for a bar and lounge with live music, similar to Tonic Tavern, in the space. Schrank has not yet acquired the bar's lease, but he has filed a liquor license application with the city in the hopes of expediting that process if he gets the space. But he thinks getting the lease might be a competitive process.

"It's a great location," he said. "I'm just assuming there are a number of people interested."

The Tonic Tavern announced last week that it would close on Feb. 29 after 15 years in business.

"There are a number of different things that contribute to it, but it's been hard to recover after the COVID shutdown," owner Paul Jonas said. "The costs have increased and the sales decreased."

Schrank was the general manager of Tonic Tavern from 2017 to November 2023.

"I loved that place since it first opened up. I've had a lot of fun there, and I want to continue the tradition," Schrank said. "Paul put a lot of love and effort into it, and I want to thank him for that."

Schrank said he left Tonic Tavern in November because he "wanted to go a different direction."

"Paul was talking about how he was going on to the next phase of his life," Schrank said. "I think he saw the lease was coming to an end. He was looking to make a change."

Schrank said he wants The Golden Horn to have a similar feel to Tonic Tavern, with a low-key drink menu and live music.

"I just want it to be a friendly neighborhood bar, with an environment where you can get a Jack and Coke and not feel intimidated by a trendy cocktail," he said. "The plan is to just create a vibe where we can just go in and have no judgment."

Some changes might happen, as Schrank wants to build a permanent stage in what is now the lounge room and bring in a more diverse lineup of musicians.

He said that if he does get the lease and all else goes well, The Golden Horn would open May 1.

The Tonic Tavern is celebrating its final days with karaoke on Tuesdays and The Crossfade Crew DJing on Thursdays. It will host an after party for the Mama Tried motorcycle show on Feb. 24 and will offer inventory close-out events during its final week.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Dave Schrank only hopes to open The Golden Horn in the former Tonic Tavern space, but he has not yet acquired the lease for the space.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Bay View bar and lounge hopes to take over Tonic Tavern space