A familiar place with a new name opened to the public on Thursday, July 10.
Muggs, located in the former Rustic Inn restaurant on Ten Curves Road in Helmer was opened by Curt and Denise Taylor, who also own and operate Moose Du Nord in Helmer.
The Taylors purchased the building in 2021, intending to open a bar and restaurant there. The building was an on-again, off-again restaurant in the past but had been closed for years before the Taylors bought it.
“This has been a longtime coming,” said Curt Taylor. “It has been really good, we have had a lot of customers coming in—there has been people coming here for years.”
The name “Muggs” was chosen by Curt as a special tribute to his mother.
“The name comes from my mom’s nickname in high school,” Curt stated. “She grew up in Newberry—Marguerite Heppe was her name. I thought it would be kind of a tribute, but also a cool name for the bar.”
During their first night open, Muggs featured Newberry High School alumnus and singer and songwriter Michelle Chenard, who gave a live performance. The Taylors are planning to host live musical entertainment at different times. Michelle Chenard will be performing again in August.
In addition to beer and other drinks, Muggs currently serving just hamburgers and French fries but will eventually add fish and broasted chicken to the menu.
“It’s going to be a small menu, but we are going to be running features on the weekends,” Curt said. “We might have an Italian night with spaghetti or lasagna, maybe prime rib, and we talked about ribs.”
The Taylors allow customers who purchase items at Moose Du Nord to come to Muggs and dine there.
“Anything that is on the menu down there you can get it and bring it up here,” he said. Moose Du Nord has very few tables and most customers usually take their food to go.
In addition to a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, Curt made some renovations inside the restaurant.
“I stripped down all the floor in the kitchen and redid it and almost of all the appliances in the kitchen are new,” Curt said. He also purchased new bar stool and several new tables and chairs.
Curt added large televisions that will feature baseball, football, hockey, and other sports events.
Two 14-foot yurts (round-shape shelters) behind the restaurant will be available for customers in the future.
Muggs is currently open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily except Tuesdays and will be open year-round.
They are planning a grand opening celebration in August.
