Tallitha Reese

Steve & Collin White of Mabe’s Pizza

The fourth and third generations to run Mabe’s Pizza in Decorah, Iowa. Left: Collin and Jenny White, and Right: Connie and Steve White. / Photo courtesy Mabe’s Pizza

There are certain things that are identified as true Decorah landmarks: Dunning’s Spring, Vesterheim, Luther College, Seed Savers Exchange… and Mabe’s Pizza, of course! (Ok, there are lots more, but…) 

For 70 years, the White family has been providing square cut pizza slices and hometown hospitality to Northeast Iowa locals and visitors alike. Now a fourth generation family business, the Mabe’s legacy started with Mabel White, who at the age of 49 (!), opened “Mabel’s Lunch Room” in 1953 at the corner of College Drive and Leif Erickson Street. Her proximity to Luther College was a winning choice from the start – they provided countless coffee, donuts, and eventually meals, to area residents and hungry students. It was one of those young patrons who asked Mabel about making a “pizza” – something she knew nothing about at the time, but would eventually make Mabe’s an iconic Decorah staple. 

The “party cut” – where the pizza is cut into square slices to be easily shared among a crowd (or party) – is a signifying Mabe’s trait. Grandson Steve White confirms that the square cut pizza got its start because Mabel originally made the pizza in rectangle baking sheets at the Lunch Room before moving into the “modern” pizza world, with round pans and a new downtown location in the 500 block of West Water Street in 1962, where the name was shortened to “Mabe’s.” 

The square shaped slices of the “party cut” are a signature trait of Mabe’s Pizza / Photo by Benji Nichols

Eventually, Mabe’s settled into its current location at 110 East Water Street in 1978, shortly before Mabel’s son Don (second generation) and wife Maime would take over the family business in 1981. Mabel’s grandson, Steve (third generation), would return to Decorah after college at UNI and working in Cedar Falls, taking over the reigns with his wife, Connie, in 1999, just a couple of years before Mabel would pass away. These days, Mabel’s great grandson, and fourth-generation pizza purveyor, Collin (Jenny) White joins his dad, Steve, in helping to merge modern technology – like online ordering options – while keeping Mabe’s Pizza traditions – and family recipes – close to heart. From forging partnerships with local breweries, to supporting an endless number of community groups and projects, Mabe’s is a true main street (or Water Street, in this case!) pillar. 

Mabel’s son Don (second generation) and wife Maime took over the family business in 1981. / Photo courtesy Mabe’s Pizza

Join them in celebrating 70 years of square cut pizza and four generations of family-run-business this summer – and keep an eye out for monthly specials and celebrations.

You can find the audio version of this interview – and extra behind-the-scenes info –online as part of our “Rhymes With Decorah” Podcast series at www.decorah.fun

The Basics: Steve (third generation) and Collin (fourth generation) White
Business: Mabe’s Pizza
Address: 110 East Water Street, Decorah, Iowa
Years in Business: 70!
Website: mabespizza.com

Mabel White / Photo courtesy Mabe’s Pizza.

1. Tell us about the “leap” moment. 

In 1953, Mable started Mabel’s Lunch Room – she was 49. 

2. What was your path into the family business?

Steve: Of course in high school I did work (in the business), but then I went down to UNI in Cedar Falls, and I knew I wanted to be in the restaurant business. I got involved in managing some restaurants there and to see how I’d like it, and when I graduated in ’81, I came back and started working full time.

Collin: I had a pretty similar story, I worked through high school, and went to college at Iowa Central. I knew I wanted to be in the business – I got a degree in hospitality management. After the first year they voted me the manager for our second year students, graduated in 2013, came back and have been back working at Mabe’s since. 

3. Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?

The second location was on West Water Street downtown (now the “Oneota Professional Building” across from Vesterheim) – which became Mabe’s second location, burned on December 31, 1968, during a kitchen remodel. Don (Mabel’s son) and Mabel bought out Grove’s pizza, who were located in the Hotel Winneshiek building at that time, and re-opened in the “new” location just under two months later. Meanwhile they sought out a piece of property just down the street that was empty, and in February of 1978, Mabe’s opened up at what is our current location. 

Finding employees is also always a challenge – we always need employees. We’re at about 2/3 of what we were at before the pandemic – we have roughly 55 employees, but were at about 75 before the pandemic. Luckily we have some very loyal employees that have been with us for decades.

4. Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?

An old-school Mabe’s Pizza sign. / Photo courtesy Mabe’s Pizza.

Steve: Well, I’d say the number one thing is we wouldn’t be where we are today without Grandma Mabel – at the age of 49 starting what she did. I know she liked to cook, and her friends just encouraged her to start her business – she had four big boys and had to cook for them as well. 

Collin: Besides Great Grandma Mabel, I’d say I look up to my Dad – seeing what needs to be done, to be successful, the amount of work that needs to be done not only at the store, but outside too.  

5. What’s something that has helped mange your business run well over the years?

Collin: The nice thing for us is that my mother, Connie, has been helping with the bookwork for years, so that’s been nice to have in-house, willing answer phones and questions. We also upgraded to a cloud-based ordering and POS system right before the pandemic which really helped. 

6. How do you manage your life/work balance? 

Steve: Since the pandemic we’ve changed our hours where we’re only open about 80 hours a week (!). But that’s just the posted hours – Collin and I are often in by 7:30 or 8 each morning, and we open at 11. Hospitality is a lot of work.

An old-school photo of Mabe’s employees, including loyal dough-maker Tom Clements Jr. / Photo courtesy Mabe’s Pizza

Collin: You’re always on the job, but we have some great employees that we can rely on – our pizza starts with the dough – we make it fresh daily, and we’ve had a very loyal employee who’s been working for us for 42+ years. Tom Clements Jr. has been the mastermind behind our dough – and creates some real magic there. That’s a great example of a loyal employee who helps keep things going. 

Good support. My wife Jenny and I just had a daughter – Having a supportive partner and family makes it all work too – she’s very supportive of it, and it helps out a lot.

Steve: But at the end of the day as the owner – the business doesn’t take a break, so when something goes wrong, or someone doesn’t show up, we deal with it, you just deal with it. 

7. What does it mean to be an independent business on a rural downtown main street in 2023? 

Well, we try to be involved in our community – we want to be involved and help in ways we can – whether that’s sponsoring a Park Rec program, helping the Sunflower Daycare project, and other things –we do the best we can to support those things – as the community supports us. 

Listen to the podcast version of this story here!

It’s Summer Music Time!

Larry Who? LarryFest!

More than 20 years ago, brothers Larry and Doug Sebranek from La Farge, Wisconsin, attended the popular bluegrass festival in Telluride, Colorado. On the drive home, they began to dream of creating an authentic bluegrass festival of their own on their maple syrup farm in rural Wisconsin. 

Right off the bat, they knew they had the perfect acoustical setting for it. Larry had once set up a speaker in their long, quiet valley, and drove down the road to see how far the sound would travel. He ended up driving three miles before the music faded out.

The first event – then Bohemian Glen Bluegrass Music Festival (named after their farm) – happened in the summer of 1998. About 50 friends and family members attended, and six local bands performed. After that first event, a group of family and friends volunteered to help Larry and Doug plan the second festival. The first order of business: replace the too-long original name. 

Photo courtesy of LarryFest

“The group talked to Doug about renaming it ‘Larryfest,’” explains Larry Sebranek. “Quite a surprise when the festival name change was announced at the first meeting to start planning the 1999 festival.” When Larry briefly left that meeting, he says he returned to everyone wearing caps that said Larryfest.

This year, Larryfest will host its 26th event August 17-19, with two outdoor stages for a great roster of local and national performers. Attendees travel from across the country  – and even the world, as they’ve had attendees from Australia, China, Japan, and more – to listen to the sound of authentic bluegrass music echo through the Driftless Wisconsin valley landscape. 

The group of volunteers was formalized into a nonprofit called Kickapoo Valley Acoustic Music Association Inc. (KVAMA), with the purpose of preserving and promoting bluegrass, folk, and old-time music. KVAMA also holds a food drive at the gates of Larryfest, and a portion of the festival proceeds go to La Farge Fire Department, La Farge Ambulance Squad, La Farge Lions Club, and the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department.

Larryfest is known for several fun traditions, from free sweet corn on Saturday, an all-attendee-invited kayaking trip down the Kickapoo River, which is near the fest grounds, free tent-camping, and magical, light-wrapped trees in the audience seating area. 

 “You truly get the most banjo for your buck at Larryfest,” says operations coordinator Larry Liebl. “This event has become a tradition for a lot of families and groups of friends. We really want to see the festival attract some new people to keep this tradition of bluegrass music alive for the next generation.”

And in 2022, Larryfest launched the addition of free music workshops to the weekend’s offerings, led by performers from participating bands. 

“The workshops started as a great way to allow people to not only hear the music of the fest, but to make music and jam together,” says Kjerstin Lang, marketing coordinator for the event.  

Though Doug Sebranek sadly passed away in 2015 at age 52, the relationships he built lining up national bluegrass acts each year has carried the festival forward. “That focus on offering high quality, authentic, traditional bluegrass music performed by award-winning professional groups from the southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, North/South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as many popular local groups has contributed to the success and longevity of Larryfest,” says Doug’s brother, Larry. Planning to attend? Grab your tickets at kvama.org, and bring your banjo and tent: It’s summer music time!

Tallitha Reese

Tallitha Reese is a freelance writer and content manager based in Cashton, WI. She owns Words By Reese and you can find out more about her and her work at www.wordsbyreese.com.

A note from Inspire(d):

Summer is the perfect time to soak up great live music and festivals in our region. We’ve been big fans and supporters of music across the Midwest since the launch of Inspire(d) in 2007, and we love to know that each summer there are more and more amazing opportunities out there. We took a moment to highlight a handful of favorites below – but it feels nearly impossible to give enough high-fives and props to all the good folks working hard to organize great music in the Driftless. So we created a resource page to connect you to THEIR websites to see up-to-date listings. Hop on over and check it out, send us message if you’ve got another site to add to the list, and get out there and support live music, friends!

Mark your calendar for these great events, and head to iloveinspired.com/livemusic for a resource page to connect with other live music opportunities in the region!

Larryfest Music Festival

August 17-19 • S2096 24 Valley Rd. La Farge, WI 54639

For tickets, band line-up, and more visit KVAMA.org.  $150; kids ages 16 and under are free with a ticket-holding adult. Tickets can also be purchased by phone: Larry Sebranek at 608.386.1448 or at Leo & Leona’s Tavern and Dance Hall, off Hwy. 33, Newberg Corners.

Viroqua Night Markets + Vernon Co Music 

The Viroqua area is always a great destination for a summer adventure, and boy do they have some fun plans this season. 

Vernon County Music in the Parks, happens every Wednesday alternating between Sidie Hollow & Esofea parks (Through August)

Live in Viroqua, every 1st & 3rd Saturday through September (Catch Viroqua Pride Fest June 17)

Driftless Music Festival, July 8 at Eckhart Park

Viroqua Night Markets every 2nd Friday through September! 

Catch all the dates and deets at www.vernoncountyfriends.org or Viroqua Chamber Facebook.

Lanesboro Rhythms on the Root

General B and the Wiz concert sponsored by Inspire(d) / Photo courtesy of General B and the Wiz

Lanesboro Arts is thrilled to announce another stellar line-up the outdoor summer music series Rhythms on the Root. The series activates the vibrant asset of Gateway Park as a place for the Lanesboro community and visitors to gather and celebrate with live music. The concerts will take place from 6 to 7:30 pm on the second Saturday of every month this summer: June (General B & the Wiz), July (Sleeping Jesus), and August (Faith Boblett). Tickets are on sale now and are $20 General Admission and $15 Lanesboro Arts Members (free for youth age 12 and under, but ticket still required). Find details at lanesboroarts.org

Driftless Music Gardens

Driftless Music Gardens is gearing up for an epic summer of festivals: Bonfire (June 8-10), Boogie Down (July 21-22), and People Fest (August 11-12). Hillsboro, Wisconsin

Driftless Music Gardens / Photo courtesy of Ty Helbach Photography

Founded by five members of Madison’s The People Brothers Band, Driftless Music Gardens is home to festivals and events that pair exceptional natural scenery and with some of the best musical and artistic talent the Midwest has to offer.  Located in idyllic rural Hillsboro, Wisconsin, this summer’s Driftless Music Gardens line-ups include bands from near and far – Michael Franti & Spearhead to Armchair Boogie to Yonder Mountain String Band to Joe & Vicki Price. “It’s in this beautiful place that we hope to change lives by creating a one of a kind experience rooted in compassion and appreciation for life and arts,” they write on their website, driftlessmusicgardens.com (where you can also find event details and purchase tickets)!

Decorah Lawn Chair Nights!

Lawn Chair night is a long-standing Thursday evening summer tradition in Decorah thanks to the Downtown Decorah Betterment Association! The series has continued to evolve in recent years, with a few select performances happening at the Winneshiek County Courthouse, and the majority of the Thursday evening concerts firing up on Washington Street, outside of the Hotel Winneshiek and Impact Coffee

Find the entire lineup at visitdecorah.org – with both local, regional, and national performers helping make summer in Decorah a fun place to be!

Turkey River Cabin Concerts

Turkey River Cabin Concerts / Photo: @TurkeyRiverCabinConcerts

Down on the Turkey River, outside of Elkader, a few folks have been working hard to make some incredible events happen – canoeing and kayaking, live music, camping – and music – all the good stuff.  Save the date for the July 14-15 Music Campout, for sure! Check out all the upcoming shows and details: www.cabinconcerts.org

Find more links at iloveinspired.com/livemusic!

Wonder As You Wander

Wonder is often seen as the stuff of childhood. But setting a goal to live life with intentional wonder can be magic – for kids and adults alike. Wonders abound at Allamakee County’s 8,990-acre Yellow River State Forest

By the numbers, Yellow River State Forest (YRSF) is about 30 miles from Decorah, 50 from La Crosse and 20 from Prairie du Chien. There are 48 miles of trails, including trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, horse riding, and snowmobiling. There are 101 regular campsites, 32 equestrian campsites and five backpack areas with 21 secluded sites as well as a rustic cabin available by reservation. YRSF has more than eight miles of trout stream access, public hunting, one-of-a-kind ecosystems, and is a Globally Significant Bird Conservation Area.  

And it’s a place full of magic and mystery.

Yellow River State Forest Trail / Photo by Scott Boylen

Next time (or the first time) you take a hike there, challenge yourself to look at the forest with fresh eyes. Look at things up close and far away (heck, bring a magnifying glass and binoculars!). 

Study the pattern the lichens make on the rocks. Did you notice the many shades of green? How many species of trees can you see? How many colors of wildflowers? How many shades of blue is the sky from the horizon to the zenith overhead? 

Find a good rock or log to sit on for a few minutes. After considering what lives in and near that rock or log, close your eyes for a couple of minutes. Take a few deep, slow breaths… and listen. How many different birds do you hear? Does the wind sound different as it passes through deciduous trees, evergreens, or prairies?   

The number of things to wonder about is endless! 

If you are feeling really adventurous and curious, think about the whys to all of your questions! 

Now that you are all tuned into the natural world around you, let’s investigate some mysteries at Yellow River State Forest! 

Why is there a fire tower in Iowa?

Iowa’s only fire tower was erected in 1963. The tower – 99 feet and 9 inches tall – is located on top of a woodland knoll in YRSF, at an elevation of 1,047 feet. Although fire towers were once common across the United States, this tower was never actually used for fire detection. It was given to the state forest by the National Forest Service. The tower is now a symbol of fire protection in a bygone era. It is unsafe to climb and is locked to even DNR staff, but you can drive up to the base and see this unique treasure reaching to the sky. 

The fire tower in Yellow River State Forest / Photo by Scott Boylen

Friends of Yellow River State Forest worked earnestly on getting the fire tower designated on the National Register of Historic Places – a goal accomplished in 2021– and hope to someday restore the fire tower, though no plans are currently in motion.

Bigfoot, bobcats and bears? Oh my!  

There are stories that Bigfoot lives in these forested hills. In 2017, the Animal Planet series “Finding Bigfoot” filmed an episode at YRSF. Although no photographs, remains, or other evidence of such a creature has been found, you never know what you will find at YRSF…

Like bobcats! These three-foot-long wild cats have a short “bobbed” tail, and weigh 20 to 30 pounds, according to the Iowa DNR. They typically live three to five years, and mostly eat rabbits, mice, voles, and squirrels. They live secretive lives at YRSF, as they are very shy animals and it’s rare to catch a glimpse of one.

There are occasionally black bears that pass through the area as well – one was struck on Highway 76 near State Forest Road several years ago, but the Iowa DNR says there is not a breeding population of black bears.

If you see a bobcat, count yourself lucky! If you see a black bear (or Bigfoot!) note your location and the time, and let the DNR know! 

Someone told me that there are cacti in YRSF… that can’t be real!

The Paint Rock Unit of YRSF contains one of Iowa’s most unique ecosystems – goat prairies – and small cacti certainly can live there. Also known as dry prairies or hill prairies, this special place sometimes occurs on southwest-facing bluff sides with minimal topsoil. Many uncommon plants can grow there, including pasque and blazing star flowers and even very small prickly pear cacti. Look carefully and watch where you step – not only to protect the plants but because rattlesnakes also live in goat prairies! 

I came upon an area where the trees were recently all cut down! I thought clear-cutting was something that should be avoided at all costs. Is my mystery tour turning into a nightmare?

Clear cutting – done correctly – can be a useful forestry management tool. According to Cody Barloon, a Forestry Technician at Yellow River, the reason trees in a carefully selected area in YRSF were recently cut is to regenerate Big Tooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata). Cody says the population of aspen trees in Iowa has been declining, and they are hoping to use the old adage of “cut down one aspen and a thousand will grow.” Aspens face a lot of competition from other trees, so when they’re trying to re-establish themselves, it’s useful to remove all the other species in a small area. Aspens reproduce rapidly from root suckers, forming dense stands when cut or harvested. Often what appears to be a large group of individual trees are root sprouts from a single seedling or tree.

Aspens live for about 50 years and can be used by more than 500 species of animals and plants for habitat, and the seed, buds, and catkins (the flowering spike) are utilized by many birds, including quail and grouse, according to Iowa State University Extension.

Experience the wonder of Yellow River State Forest / Photo by Scott Boylen

I found a tree that looks like someone grated off the bark, what in the world is going on?

According to YRSF Forester staff, that is called “flecking.”  It is a common sign that the tree is fully infested with a very nasty bug called the emerald ash borer. When an ash tree gets enough emerald ash borer larvae in it, woodpeckers figure this out and then fleck off the bark to get at the yummy larvae underneath. This is a very bad omen for the ash tree as it is pretty much doomed by the time it gets to this point.  

Emerald ash borers cannot travel far on their own, but they have spread throughout the United States by hitchhiking when humans move wood. They are one of the main reasons you should never transport firewood – buy it and burn it where you are camping. 

Magic, wonder and enchantment are all around us, we just need to take the time to look, listen and feel!

Kelli & Scott Boylen

Kelli Boylen is a freelance writer and a licensed massage therapist who is lucky to live next to Yellow River State Forest. She dislikes writing about herself in third person.

Scott Boylen is a freelance nature photographer and a sixth grade science teacher in Decorah. He enjoys fat tire biking and hanging out with his beagle. 

 Be a BFF for YRSF!

Friends of Yellow River State Forest was established in 2018 to be a voice for Yellow River State Forest. The mission is to enhance Yellow River State Forest for public use while protecting the integrity of the flora, fauna, soil, and water.
Friends of Yellow River State Forest, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is made up of dedicated volunteers and board members. They have invested hundreds of hours protecting and preserving treasured natural resources, raising funds, and making improvements to YRSF. They assist and support the DNR’s mission, operations, and programs at YRSF. They have raised and reinvested more than $100,000 into Yellow River State Forest. New members, volunteers, and donations are always welcome. www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org

Their accomplishments include:  
• Streambank improvement projects  
• Contributed toward the seeding of 120 acres of native prairie in Yellow River State Forest 
• Built observation/ photo blind in the wetland area on Donahue Road
• Purchased more than $4,500 worth of trees for campgrounds, helped to plant 100+ additional trees 
• Ice and firewood sales to campers
• Purchased 20 picnic tables and helped assemble another 30 tables
• Purchased and replaced all horse-hitching posts 
• Fire rings for backpack camping areas
• 20,000+ new YRSF maps 
• Gravel and excavator work for trail repair, improvement, and maintenance
• Programming for visitors and community members including outdoor cooking, youth scavenger hunts, shooting star watch party, fly fishing, bird ID, fly tying, snowshoe hikes, annual Mother’s Day 5k, 10k, and half marathon trail run, and lots more. Events are posted on Facebook and on www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org. Have an idea for programming? Let them know!