If you’ve been to Johnny’Z Animal House on Kenosha’s Northside, chances are you’ve met Onna Bjork.
And if you’ve met Onna, chances are you didn’t just order a drink — you had a conversation, shared a laugh, maybe did a shot, and probably made a new friend.
That’s not by accident.
As General Manager of Johnny’Z Animal House, Onna isn’t just overseeing operations — she’s shaping the entire experience. The vibe, the inclusiveness, the fun — what regulars now call simply “the Johnny’Z vibe” — carries her fingerprint.
“Even when we’re completely filled, it’s still laid back,” she says. “People are playing pool and darts, singing to music on the jukebox, and just having a good time.”
But the real magic? It’s how she makes people feel.
Onna describes Animal House as her afternoon and evening headquarters. Sales meetings happen here. Vendor conversations happen here. Weekend nights stretch into celebrations. But more importantly, relationships are built here.
“I try to remember people’s names — usually we remember their drinks first,” she laughs. “But I want to know their stories. Their families. What’s going on in their lives.”
She makes it a point to turn regulars into family — and first-time guests into regulars.
If someone walks in alone, she invites them to join a group.
If the table orders shots and one person doesn’t drink, that person gets a juice shot.
If it’s your birthday, don’t be surprised if there’s a cake waiting.
“I just want everyone included,” she says. “I want you to leave wanting to come back.”
That instinct to connect is what separates a bar from a gathering place.
Onna and owner John Ziemba have worked together for nearly a decade, first building the success of Johnny’Z Pour House before bringing their concept north.
“There’s no guessing with us,” she says. “We know what works, what doesn’t, and when to switch things up. Sometimes we divide and conquer. Sometimes we figure it out together. But no matter what, we’re always in it together.”
Onna describes Pour House as the “older, more mature sister” — larger, with a full kitchen — while Animal House is the “younger, wilder sister,” quickly becoming Kenosha’s go-to for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and spontaneous Tuesday celebrations.
The consistency between the two? That welcoming Johnny’Z energy.
Onna also serves on the Kenosha City Tavern League, giving her a behind-the-scenes perspective on the hospitality industry. Through Tavern League meetings and conventions, she connects with fellow bar owners and managers, exchanges ideas, learns about emerging trends, and brings fresh concepts back to Animal House. “It’s a great group, and I love being a part of it,” she says. “You meet people going through the same challenges, and you help each other out.”
That collaboration shows in the evolving drink menu, themed specials, and willingness to try something new — from Fish Bowls and mocktails to festive seasonal cocktails.
Of course, Animal House delivers on the essentials — sports on every TV, pool tables, dart boards, Golden Tee leagues, Wednesday night bingo, karaoke, and late-night food (even at 2 a.m.).
Fan-favorite bites include Duck Bacon Wontons, birria mini tacos, pretzel bites with cheese sauce, crispy potstickers, and their popular pizza — something unique to this location.
But for Onna, the goal goes beyond food and drinks.
“You can go anywhere for a drink,” she says. “We want you to think of Johnny’Z when you want a fun night.” And sometimes, that fun comes in the form of a shot ski ritual. “I think we just love shots and having fun,” she laughs. “We wanted to make it part of the experience.”
During construction, Onna secretly arranged for a giant golden pig to surprise John. Originally placed under a spotlight in the center of the bar, it now lives near the gaming machines — and has become the bar’s unofficial mascot. Before playing machines or buying pull tabs, guests rub the “Lucky Pig.” Onna dresses him up for holidays and encourages photos. “How can you not smile and laugh while rubbing a golden pig?” she says. It’s playful. It’s memorable. It’s pure Onna.
Onna recently shared her journey on the Ktown Connects Podcast, giving listeners a deeper look at how she and John built their business. “It was my first podcast and such an honor,” she says. “I even had people I didn’t know come up to me and say they heard it. How cool is that?” For Onna, local podcasts and community media matter because they allow people to hear the story behind the bar — not just see the sign outside.
A Must-Visit in Kenosha
When asked why visitors should stop in, Onna sums it up perfectly:
“It’s a fun, laid-back place to enjoy food and drinks, listen to music, and watch sports. We’ll make a Thursday feel like a Saturday.”
Top 3 Insider Tips:
- Do a shot with Onna
- Rub the Lucky Pig
- Try a Barbie Bomb and the Duck Bacon Wontons
What makes Johnny’Z Animal House special isn’t just the TVs, the pizza, or the drink specials.
It’s Onna’s energy when you walk in the door.
It’s her remembering your name.
It’s her making sure you’re included.
It’s her turning a random night into a celebration.
“I want it to be the go-to spot for a chill but extremely fun time every time you walk through those doors,” she says. “And the place where we get to host people’s big moments in life.”
On Kenosha’s Northside, that vision is already coming to life — one shot ski, one birthday cake, and one new friendship at a time.
In a city known for its lakefront views, historic neighborhoods, and growing culinary scene, places like Johnny’Z Animal House remind visitors what makes Kenosha special — it’s the people.
It’s the way you’re greeted when you walk in.
It’s the laughter echoing from the pool tables.
It’s a spontaneous shot ski on a Tuesday.
It’s a golden pig that makes you smile before you even order a drink.
At the center of it all is Onna Bjork — remembering names, celebrating birthdays, cheering on games, and making sure everyone feels like they belong.
For visitors exploring Kenosha — whether you’re here for a weekend getaway, a college visit, Restaurant Week, or a summer by the lake — Johnny’Z Animal House offers something you can’t always put on a travel itinerary: connection.
Come for the pizza.
Stay for the vibe.
Leave feeling like family.
And if you’re lucky? You might just get talked into a shot with Onna.
Visit Today!
2324 18th Street, Suite B/C
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 484-4005
