Kevin Campbell, who has lived in Hartland for his entire life, has been a regular at Triangle Tap, 247 W. Capitol Dr., for 25 years and visits the tavern every day – seven days a week – from 3 p.m. until 5:30 or 6 p.m. He rarely misses a day, but if he does, someone at the tavern will call or text him to ensure he’s OK.

Campbell’s drink of choice, like many of the Triangle patrons, is a bottle of beer – usually a Molson Coors product – and a shot of Goldschlager, a Swiss cinnamon schnapps with 24-karat gold flakes floating in it.

“We go through a ton of Goldschlager here,” says co-owner Stacy Smith.

I’ve been writing about bars and taverns for many years, but this was a first for me. Why Goldschlager? I ask Campbell.

“I don’t really know, but that's a good question,” he says, raising his shot in the direction of two men across the bar, also holding up shots of, I presume, Goldschlager.

Bar dice, pull tabs and free popcorn are also popular at Triangle Tap. Smith says when she bought the bar almost nine years ago with her boyfriend, Scott Grenier, she knew she was going to buy a popcorn machine.

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“There was one here years ago, and it broke and the owner never replaced it,” she says. “People really missed it.”

Triangle Tap also serves microwaved pork rinds and frozen pizzas from West Allis-based Nico’s and Lebby’s, made in Horicon, Wis.

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Prior to owning the bar – aptly named “Triangle Tap” because the shape of the lot at the intersection of two streets – Smith worked there as a bartender. “I don’t have a lot of family in the area,” says Smith. “This is my family.”

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Today, Smith, Grenier and their dog, Lola Bean, live a block away from the tavern. The three are at the bar almost everyday, occasionally having back-up bartenders take shifts so they don’t burn out. Lola loves people, but not other dogs, so she is always the sole canine in the space.

“She’s the scariest Pit Bull in the world,” jokes Smith. 

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The bar has a few vintage photos on the walls – the building was built in the late 19th Century – along with illuminated beer and pizza signs, and televisions. Globe-like light fixtures hang from the ceiling over the bar. There’s also an adjoining room filled with gambling machines.

When Smith took over the business it required minimal renovation, so she simply gave it a fresh coat of paint and a new floor. But the no-frills bar is full of personality, thanks to the devoted patrons. Many are from the area, and walk over after work. Some of the retired folks stop in a little earlier.

“The average age here is people in their fifties,” says Smith. “Which means there is no nonsense.”

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Once in a great while, Smith says she’ll have to get stern with a customer, but she has no problem doing that if necessary.

“I might be five-two (5-feet, 2-inches tall), but if this smile goes, you’re in trouble,” she says.

But it’s typically smooth sailing at Triangle Tap and everyone’s in upbeat, positive spirits. The bargoers also connect outside of the tavern. On Christmas Eve, Smith and Grenier close early and everyone heads over to a customer’s house for the evening.

“It’s a bunch of really good people in here,” says Smith. “I knew most of them as friends when we took over the bar, and now they've become more family than friends.”

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Triangle Tap opens seven days a week at 1 p.m. During the week, they close around 10:30 or 11 p.m. – earlier if there aren't customers. On weekends, they stay open until about midnight. Triangle Tap hosts a Happy Hour on weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Drinks over $3 are $1 off; drinks priced at less than $3 are 50 cents off.