The name is no frills, but The Bar’s menu is packed with a variety of flavorful food

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Mary Nichols wanted to offer more variety on the menu when she and her husband Kurt opened The Bar next door to their Marino’s Pizza restaurant.

Which is why the menu at The Bar features a range of burgers, wraps, salads and grilled sandwiches. People can still order pizza, but Nichols wanted to make sure they had more choices, she said.

“We try to hit what everybody wants,” Nichols said.

Since opening in January in the former Key Largo Lounge near Jackson, Nichols said she and chef Max Gauss have created the menu, which is still being adjusted. But so far, burgers have been popular with patrons.

Burger patties are slow cooked, and the beef is purchased locally, Nichols said. People can choose from toppings that include a choice of cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions, relish, lettuce, tomato, olives and jalapenos, she said, adding they can add almost anything.

“If you want to ask us for something different, we’ll do it,” Nichols said.

The Reuben also has been a big seller, and includes sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing. Customers can also get a turkey Reuben, which is topped with coleslaw.

“That’s been equally as popular,” Nichols said, of the turkey Reuben. “It’s a little lighter.”

Items are being added to the menu all the time, she said. People can expect to find a pork sandwich with bacon jam, Coney dogs and some specialty pizzas, only featured in The Bar added in the future, Nichols said.

The Bar also features a full bar and six beers on tap.

Key Largo closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Marino’s saw the potential to use the empty space for catering and private events, which had been lacking since it sold its Parnall Road location to Blackman Township in 2023.

However, after seeing a demand from people for a bar, Nichols and her husband decided to reopen it under a simple name – “The Bar.”

“Some people call it Key Largo, some people call it The Bar,” Nichols said. “I said, I don’t really care what you call it as long as you come in.”

Nichols, her husband and their kids, Jenny and Maverick, renovated the space with new flooring, seating and bathrooms. While it looks different than the former Key Largo Lounge, people can still find the old mirror the back of the bar, she said.

The Bar, 1896 Horton Road, is open 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

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