Buyer for Polack Inn seeks Wausau rezoning for upgrades, parking

Damakant Jayshi and Shereen Siewert

The new owners of a longstanding east-side tavern are planning renovations to the building along with new off-street parking to alleviate traffic concerns on North Third Street in Wausau.

DNA Taverns, LLC recently purchased Polack Inn, 1206 N. Third St. and a vacant building next door at 1208. The new owners also want to buy a city-owned lot at 1210 N. Third St., which is assessed at $6,900. The Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions lists the registered agent for DNA Taverns, LLC, as Daniel Dadabo, who along with his wife Ashley Dadabo also has an interest in multiple properties including Pregame Pub in Wausau.

Polack Inn on June 25 posted a notice on Facebook that the property has been sold and would be under new ownership as of July 1.

Wausau’s Plan Commission on Tuesday approved a rezoning request for the properties, paving the way for renovations to the tavern and an adjacent home, while adding additional parking.

DNA Taverns is requesting rezoning from two flat residential to urban mixed use to allow for the changes. The Economic Development Committee gave its nod to the sale of property at 1210 N. Third St. in Wausau. Staff recommended the property be sold at the assessed price.

In a June 24 email to city officials, Ashley Dadabo referred to the renovated tavern as “Nevermore on 3rd” and said the business plan involves taking a long-standing establishment “with good food, a small concert venue and building with lots of character and turning it into an eclectic destination for the community.” She said they will focus on a theme that pulls from the history of the building, complements the original tin and architectural design while bringing new life into the Third Street corridor.

In his memo to the committee on July 2, Wausau Community Development Department’s Randy Fifrick said that the sale would be contingent upon successful rezoning and purchase of the properties at 1206 and 1208.

Tuesday’s Plan Commission’s approval meets that condition. The City Council will make a final decision on the proposal next month.

One of the owners, Ashley Dadabo, told the Plan Commission that she spoke with residents in the area and heard a lot about parking concerns during busy business hours. From a safety standpoint, the proposed parking lot is needed. About eight to 10 parking spots are being planned, she said.

“We hope you’ll consider our proposal of acquiring and rezoning as a way for us to continue to improve upon a historic area of Wausau with careful consideration to keep housing while proactively looking at how to keep our patrons and community safe as we continue to grow yet another successful business in our community,” Dadabo wrote in her June 24 email.

According to Planning Department documents, the city initially acquired 1210 parcel with the idea of combining it with an adjoining parcel due to its small size. That did not happen. Meanwhile, DNA Taverns LLC began its pursuit of purchasing the Polack Inn and the adjoining brick house at 1208 3rd Street.

“As part of their plans they would like to provide dedicated parking for the Polack Inn and future residents of 1208 Third Street,” Assistant City Planner Andrew Lynch wrote in his report to the Plan Commission.

Lynch told Plan Commission members on Tuesday that the requested rezoning is appropriate and compatible with the future land use as stated in the Wausau Comprehensive Plan and the neighborhood character which is also urban mixed use. The Planning Department staff said the development of a vacant building, previously a single-family unit, for residential use will add the much-needed housing units to the market. The number of units have not been mentioned yet.

Commission member and Dist. 10 Alder Lou Larson supported the rezoning request. The vote to approve the request was unanimous.