Inside Faraway Place, downtown Wausau’s reimagined music bar and restaurant
The former Malarkey’s Pub and Mumble Wrap space has a larger stage, updated menu and renewed focus on live music.
Story by Wyatt Massey
When it became clear that Malarkey’s Pub and Mumble Wrap were odd bedfellows in the shared downtown Wausau location, owner Jesse Bartnik and others got to work reinventing the space. But they wanted to stay true to the pub’s founding principles: live music and community.
Faraway Place, the new bar and restaurant, opened in downtown Wausau early May with a redesigned interior, larger stage, and a menu that bridges the eccentricities of Mumble Wrap with the expected fare of a hometown Wisconsin bar.
With a Milwaukee Brewers game on the big screen, several people enjoying an afternoon beer and others playing Magic: The Gathering nearby, The Wausonian spoke with Bartnik about the new venture.
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How Malarkey’s Pub and Mumble Wrap became Faraway Place
Bartnik and the other owners bought Malarkey’s Pub and Townies last year and renovated the restaurant side to open Mumble Wrap. The fast-casual restaurant featured off-the-wall wraps and bowls, which Bartnik said pushed people out of their comfort zones but didn’t always align with what folks expected with a long-standing Irish pub nearby.
“We were trying to bring Malarkey’s back as its own bar and then have the restaurant be separate, and it just wasn’t the right vibe,” Bartnik said. “It wasn’t the right fit.”
The Fork Truck Food Group needed to pivot, especially after they agreed their plan to open a full-service restaurant in The Cobblery nearby wasn’t going to happen. With Saint Patrick’s Day coming up, and former owner Tyler Vogt’s band set to perform, the holiday felt like a fitting farewell, Bartnik said. Renovations began the next day.
The new business got its name from the Ojibwe word for Wausau, which translates to a “far away place,” Bartnik said.
Faraway Place has a larger stage, which is now on the restaurant side of the building. The change allows patrons to step away from the music to grab a drink or watch the show via livestream from the bar or a lounge where the old stage was. An elevated, seated dining area offers a different way to take in a show, too.
Live music will continue to be a mainstay with entertainment on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The majority of shows will be free, Bartnik said, though they will be experimenting with a few ticketed events, like Them Coulee Boys in November.
Additionally, there is trivia on Mondays, hand-dipped corn dogs on Tuesdays, and the adventurous can step up to the open mic on Thursdays.
What’s on the menu
Faraway Place keeps with Mumble Wrap’s fast-casual concept while offering a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, and mac and cheese. The menu prices are tiered, too, based on the number of smash burger patties desired.
Affordability was top of mind when designing the menu, Bartnik said, but that didn’t mean sacrificing local connections. Faraway Place has bacon from Nueske’s, produce from Red Door Family Farm, and fries and tots seasoning from Charles Street Flavors. “A lot of times when you’re using all local products, or a lot of local products, the price goes up,” Bartnik said. “But the economy is weird right now. We’re actually able to keep costs down on the food side.” (Diehard Mumble Wrap fans may spot some carryover to the new menu. For example, the chicken batter recipe is the same. Bartnik says there are still plans for a new location for Mumble Wrap. )
Beyond draft beer and a wine list, the bar has a variety of cocktails, some of which can be modified to be non-alcoholic or made with THC. Bartnik said he wants people to feel free to enjoy a fine cocktail without fearing the bill.
Where is Faraway Place?
Faraway Place is at 408 N. 3rd Street, where Malarkey’s Pub and Mumble Wrap were before. The restaurant and bar opens at 11 a.m. each day.
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