THEIR STORY
The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company was established by college friends Eliot Butler and Rob LoBreglio. The two dreamed of starting a Brewpub that offered many varieties of house-brewed ales and lagers and hearty made-from-scratch pub fare to accompany the beers. The original Downtown location opened in November 1994 and expanded with the addition of a pool hall in 1996. The wild success of the first Great Dane led to the decision to open more pubs in the Madison area. Their menu is extensive and their beer menu even more so. Games can be found inside, but the food and beer are their focus.
PROBLEM
The outdoor area had been covered with stationary awnings for years. Though serviceable, the fabric required maintenance and periodic replacement. But most important was the lack of a “WOW” factor that the traditional fabric provided the space. Management was trying to create a “Destination” outdoor space in two areas of the same location.
Before
THE DESIGN AND SOLUTION
Baraboo Awning had provided the fabric solution in the past. When The Great Dane explained that they were looking for an upgrade to the patio that included flexibility, they thought of two possible solutions. One was a next generation retractable fabric system that promised rain protection and the ability to retract on the perfect day or night. The other was a louvered pergola. The decision became pretty simple when the pergola addressed all the weather and open view requirements plus having the ability to be used in the winter, provided mounting surfaces for fans, heaters and speakers, and it created the “WOW” factor they were looking for!
After
THE BENEFITS
The Great Dane now has one of coolest outdoor seating areas in all of the Madison area. Several months into the remodel, the management team reports that the outdoor space is requested far more than ever before and reservations specifically asking for the outdoor area are now frequent. People are staying longer and spending more!
After