Club LaVida Cloverleaf Lakes

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Club LaVida
Cloverleaf Lakes, Wisconsin

Club LaVida on Cloverleaf Lakes

A grand, state of the art, nightclub once graced the terrain overlooking Shawano-Waupaca counties’ Cloverleaf Lakes: Club LaVida (translation “Life”). Built in 1933 by Chicago transplant Sam Favia it succumbed to fire in 1958. It was located on County Highway Y where the (currently closed) Lake Aire Supper Club parking lot sits. (Note: The Lake Aire has had many owners and renditions over the years. It was originally Favia’s Supper Club, built and operated by Sam Favia after he sold LaVida.)

From the pages of Clintonville Dairyman-Gazette, July 20, 1933
Murmuring pine trees and mirror-like lakes, the twin charms of Northern Wisconsin, are to be found in Cloverleaf, whose advantages as a summer resort region have never been duly impressed upon the public mind. Located only seven miles from this city, this local lake region has a charm all its own as is evidenced by the growing number of cottages on the lake banks.
In the midst of these ideal surroundings, there sprang up the past summer a large and beautiful structure, which gives all the advantages of a big city in this summer resort neighborhood – a nightclub……impressive beauty…..a palatial structure….mere words cannot fully describe.

The exterior of the building, which is 90 by 100 feet, is of white stucco. The interior has space for 100 tables which will seat 400 people. Beside this is a spacious orchestra shell where a nine-piece band discourses music. The dancing floor will take care of 125 dancing couples. The lighting fixtures and equipment is of the latest design, comparable with only the highest class nightclubs in the larger cities. The building is equipped with steam running water, shower bath, dressing rooms and modern facilities to house the entertaining troupes. The evening entertainments feature floor shows in which the best talent from the larger cities adds real class to the programs.

The culinary department is by no means the least of the attractions of the Club LaVida. They specialize in chicken and steak dinners which are served during the evening, beginning at six o’clock. A modern tavern is also housed in the building, where the best beer and soft drinks are served.

Perhaps there are two main reasons why the Club LaVida has been able to enjoy capacity houses during this time of – what will we call it – “convalescence” perhaps since “depression” is now looked upon as passe’. One reason is the high character of their programs and the other is the moderate rates. Anyway, the club has been doing a capacity business, being compelled at times to turn away large numbers

Sam Favia, the owner of the Club LaVida, came to Shawano County four years ago from Chicago. He settled in the Cloverleaf Lake region and dreamed that some day a beautiful nightclub would rise to add further attractions to these ideal and healthful surroundings.

In the building of this club, many people were employed and many firms in nearby towns given substantial orders, all of which was duly appreciated. The patronage comes from places away, which means that it is a valuable asset and a help to every other business in the community.

James “Jimmie” Lytell is the capable and affable manager whose duty it is to see that the public is pleased, and judging from comments so far, he has been filling the bill.

Now, really, what has a big city to offer in the way of attractions comparable to this part of the state? We have paved roads. Streetcars are out of date. Our hotel facilities are the best. And then to crown all these, we can get in a car and in a few minutes we are in Nature’s woods and lakes that draw tens of thousands of people to Northern Wisconsin. And now a new and beautiful nightclub has been added to the attractions which draw more people here. Really, who would want to live anywhere else, anyway?

From the Clintonville Tribune Gazette, January 2, 1958
The new year ushered in a catastrophe Wednesday morning when a roaring fire, fanned by 12 mile an hour winds, ravaged Club LaVida, about nine miles northeast of Clintonville on County Trunk Y in Shawano County.

Bill Brennan, proprietor of the club, estimated the loss at about $75.000. He said Thursday morning he discovered that the basement of the structure was “in pretty good shape”. Brennan said talks with insurance adjusters were scheduled and until then he would have no accurate idea of how completely the loss was covered by insurance. “If we do decide to rebuild it will be on the present foundation. However, it will be smaller, because we won’t have enough money to build the size of building that burned.”

Brennan said he locked up the club at about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, after which he drove to Chilton to spend New Year’s Day with his wife and family.

At 4:30 a.m. Sam Favia, owner of Favia’s Supper Club across the road from Club LaVida, was awakened by four youths pounding of the door. They were Dale Dallman, Tim Rouse, Wayne Baartz and Ken Rosenow. (Note: Ken, now deceased, was the husband of long time SCHS Board member Marcalene Rosenow.) They told Sam that the club was on fire as they drove past. Favia called the Belle Plaine Fire Department, but by the time the firemen arrived the flames were out of control and only the chimney and fireplace remained standing.

Brennan, who purchased Club LaVida last April from Ralph Bever, who had purchased it from Favia in 1953, had formerly leased the bar at Shalagoco Country Club on Shawano Lake. The Club had been remodeled several times since Favia built it in 1933 and Brennan was in the process of another update, converting the dance floor to a modern dinning room when the fire put an end to the changes. The fire apparently started in the bar room, swept across the dance floor and into the dining room. Brennan subsequently determined it was not financially feasible to rebuild.

Sources: Marcalene Rosenow, Belle Plaine resident, contributor to Treasures in Time, Town of Belle Plaine Sesquicentennial, 2008. SCHS Archives.