Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge

Ownership

The lounge is owned by Evan Dannells, Matt Gerding and Tori Gerding, all local Madison restaurateurs with established independent restaurant backgrounds (Cadre and Ancora). These are independent business owners, not corporate chains or franchises.

Local Sourcing

Limited information available about food suppliers. The menu features "global tavern food" and partnerships with local businesses like Strictly Discs and Dancing Goat Distillery suggest some local sourcing, but specific food sourcing practices are not publicly documented.

Community Involvement

Every Monday, J. Henry & Sons presents a showcase of Madison's finest DJs, and the owners are organizing the True North Music + Food Festival with the Madison Mallards. Co-owner Matt Gerding stated "We're so thrilled to be adding to our sweet little strip mall, and immersing ourselves even deeper into our northside community", indicating strong community engagement.

Local Workforce

Employee reviews highlight "Great owners and management that care. Great staff.", but other reviews mention high turnover. Wages for line cooks average $22.13/hour and bartenders $19.70/hour, which are modest for restaurant work with mixed workforce sentiment.

Revenue Retention

The business expanded into adjacent space less than a year after opening, suggesting strong local revenue generation and reinvestment in the community. As an independent business, most revenue stays local, though the degree cannot be precisely determined from available information.

Local Presence

The website uses generic template structure with cookie-cutter navigation (FAQ, Menu, Takeout & Delivery, Jobs, About) and lacks personality-driven copy, owner/staff names, or specific local supplier mentions. While it does display the Madison address and local phone number, these basic details don't overcome the corporate template feel of the overall structure and content.