Cavalier attitude

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jun 03, 2002 | by Cahalan, Steve

The dark rose-colored plaster murals that tell the story of a cavalier and his lady love are back up, running the length of the north wall.

The 16-inch-by-16-inch mirrors that together form a giant mirror, many of them with illuminated gold, red and green "C's," have been restored (some were missing and were replaced with new mirrors) and put back in place behind the bar. And several gold plaster crests are back in place inside the lounge.

The murals, mirrors and crests had been stored for years in the basement of the Cavalier Lounge at 114 Fifth Ave. N., said Chris Kahlow, who bought the closed lounge in December. She began a major restoration project there in January and reopened the lounge May 25.

The Cavalier Lounge closed last summer, Kahlow said.

In recent years, she said, "It had a 1980s interior" that was showing wear and tear.

"This was the pride of La Crosse at one time," Kahlow said. "I've been told that anyone who was anybody came to the Cavalier."

The Cavalier was started by the late John "Jack" Sheetz in 1934, according to Tribune files. In 1939, he booked a then little-known piano player - Liberace - for an engagement at the Cavalier. Liberace performed at the Cavalier for 14 weeks for $85 a week, according to Tribune files.

"This place has an incredible history," said Kahlow, who has been involved in historic preservation activities in La Crosse for the past decade. She is a member of the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse and served on its board for the past nine years.

Kahlow said she has restored the interior to a classic late 1940s or early 1950s appearance. Besides putting the murals, mirrors and crests back in place, she replaced all the furniture, refurbished existing booths and built new booths using the same colors and fabric type as the original-booths had.

"It is a classic 1950s cocktail lounge," Kahlow said of her new business. "We have kind of a classic cocktail list, but we also have a lot of new drinks. If you don't drink alcohol, you can come in and have a nice cup of coffee or some other nonalcoholic drink.

"We also have an extensive wine selection," and beer, Kahlow said. "We also have champagne, and we have champagne cocktails," which were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Champagne cocktails are making a comeback nationwide, Kahlow said.

The Cavalier Lounge also features desserts baked by Kahlow, such as lemon tarts and creme caramel. "And we have cold appetizers, such as a classic shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon appetizer plate and chilled asparagus with vinaigrette," Kahlow said.

"The focus really is on quality," Kahlow said. "You can get a good cup of coffee, good glass of wine, a good cocktail, a good glass of beer.

"It is a little different, a little more European," than the Cavalier Lounge was in recent years, she said. Her glassware came from Germany, and her espresso machine came from Italy.

The lounge sometimes will have live music, such as jazz and piano music, general manager Amy Kelly said.

The Cavalier Lounge is smoke-free, Kahlow said. She said the lounge is for "anyone who wants a quiet, relaxed atmosphere where you can socialize with your friends, have a little something to eat and get a quality drink."

An interior doorway connects the lounge to the La Crosse Community Theatre building. Kahlow said it's possible the door will be open so people who attend theater productions can walk directly into the lounge during intermission.