Monday, October 14, 2024

From Little Norway to Happy Daaze

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Chip Wasrud and Julie and Jeremy Leitzke are the new owners of Happy Daaze in Scandinavia. They purchased the tavern from Jo Jo Mork, who ran the business as Little Norway for almost 30 years.

Holly Neumann Photo

Scandiavia bar has new owners

By Holly Neumann

Chip Wasrud was looking for a change after working at the Waupaca Foundry for 36 years.

“I wanted to be my own boss and I wanted a new adventure,” he said.

Wasrud, along with Julie and Jeremy Leitzke, made the decision to purchase a well-known establishment in Scandinavia, formerly known as Little Norway.

The business is now called Happy Daaze.

“This place has been around for years,” Wasrud said. “Basically, I am going to keep it the same. The menu will also be the same. I would, however, like to bring back some kind of entertainment like they used to have.”

He hopes locals like the fact that a hometown person bought the bar, even though he has changed its name.

“I want to continue the tradition of what Jo Jo (Mork) has had here,” he said. “She has ran this place for 28 years. She has been extremely helpful in getting us started.”

Wasrud is excited about all the changes he has seen in Scandinavia.

“People are buying into this town again and I want to be a part of that,” he said. “This town is home to me and I want to see it come alive again.”

Wasrud feels at home at Happy Daaze.

“There is a sense of family here, it’s like a community,” he said. “It feels like a reunion every time you stop in and that is what keeps people drawn to this area.”

Happy Daaze is located at 295 N Main St., and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; and noon until an unknown time on Sunday.

“Come in and have fun,” Wasrud said. “Let’s keep Scandinavia growing and remember that happier days are here to come.”