BY HOLLY DODGE
Across the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, NaKato Bar and Grill, a Belgrade Ave staple, welcomes neighbors and visitors alike. Locals know NaKato is reliable and always has tasty food, cold craft brews, and an impressive bourbon and whiskey selection. You will also likely see NaKato co-owner Jake Downs working behind the bar or lugging inventory to its respective location. Jake, a lifelong North Kato resident, didn’t necessarily choose the restaurant-owner life. In 2001, his parents, Jim and Jan, who worked in sales, wanted a change. They purchased Pagliai’s Pizza (pronounced ‘polly-eyes’ for non-locals) and pivoted to pizza, pasta, and poorboys. The beloved pizzeria, established in 1969, became a fullfamily affair. Jake (recently graduated from Mankato West) and his brother Joel helped with all aspects of Pagliai’s operations: cooking, delivering, dishes, and serving. In 2011, Jim and Jan decided to purchase Bobby Joe’s Pub. The location at 253 Belgrade Avenue has had many iterations through the years. From the mid-1940s to the 1980s, the location was widely known as the “NaKato Bar.” When the Downs family purchased the building, they knew they wanted to resurrect the historical name. They also chose to keep the long-loved commercial on the menu in the company of new menu items and built a large outdoor patio seating area. After more than two decades of hands-on service experience, Jake and Joel officially took over ownership of NaKato Bar and Grill in June of 2023, allowing their parents to lean into retirement and travel. “Right now, my parents
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NORTH KATO MAGAZINE
are on a plane,” Jake laughs. But Jake’s influence on NaKato’s livelihood long proceeded his official ownership. Beyond being a dining and gathering destination, the establishment actively supports the arts, local charities, and community events. A humble music aficionado, Jake places a lot of value in highlighting musicians and artists at NaKato. “We try always to keep it an
