The Vanguard isn’t afraid to shake things up. On top of occasionally adjusting its menu in new and exciting ways, the owners of the Bay View bar and sausage emporium have shown no hesitation to occasionally break format during their first 12 years in business. The most notable way they change things up every year is its annual Halloween transformation into an entirely new business with a fully different focus.
Past Halloween-adjacent pop-ups have included the Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant concept, a single-night seafood venture called “Hook Line & Sinker,” a “Restaurant About Nothing” Seinfeld tribute, a night as an ’80s-era comedy club and cocktail lounge known as “The Punchline” (which even included a drop-in set by actor/comedian Jon Daly), a Cheatin’ Heart Honky Tonk Saloon, and last year’s Whooterz venture.
Last week, The Vanguard shared the details of its 2026 Halloween concept, and it’s easily their most collaborative one yet. From 5 p.m. to close on Thursday, October 29, The Vanguard will temporarily operate as “Mondo Taco,” a self-described “Taco Battle Royale” that will feature an eclectic menagerie of specialty tacos created by a wide variety of local chefs from an array of area establishments like DanDan/EsterEv, Goodkind, Odd Duck, Taco Moto, Not Bad Foods, El Impostor, Maya Ophelia’s, and the team at Vanguard. Adding to the experience will be a wrestling-focused art and memorabilia show curated by the folks at Mondo Lucha!
“We are really excited to be teaming up with our friends at Mondo Lucha! this year,” Vanguard co-owner Jim McCann says. “It’s also incredible everyone we asked to be involved said yes. It’s tricky to balance an idea that we think will be interesting food-wise and doable in our little kitchen designed for sausage, while still sounding fun to do.”
Oh, and since we’re all collectively basing our entire social life on Wisconsin sports right now, we should note that night’s Packers-Panthers game will be shown (with sound off) during the pop-up. Speaking of sports-type stuff, The Vanguard is now showing AEW and WWE pay-per-view events. Stay tuned for more information on the food and drink offerings as the Mondo Taco pop-up date approaches.
