BY AVA MCNARNEY & SOPHIE GOLDSTEIN
In anticipation of 50,000 people flocking to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, southeastern Wisconsin bars are now allowed to close as late as 4 a.m. from July 16-19. Some are taking advantage of the new hours, while others are closing in anticipation of heightened security and RNC private events.
“Things are a little up in the air,” says Rich Lundt, The Trade Hotel’s general manager. “The convention is promising, but of course, making sure buildings are accessible to attendees is paramount.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Bars and restaurants in the “hard zone,” or the security perimeter limited to pedestrians surrounding Fiserv Forum, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center, will be restricted to people with RNC credentials. Other establishments in the “soft zone,” or vehicle-screening perimeter, will remain open to the general public.
Here are how a few bars in both zones are – or are not – changing their plans for the convention.
The Soft Zone
(Open to the Public)
DOUBLETREE, 611 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
Open 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Avenue will also be closed for several private events during the week – those times are still to be determined.
1048 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 8 p.m.-4 a.m.
Closed on Tuesday, July 16.
“Usually Sunday through Thursday is fairly slow Downtown if events aren’t happening so anything is a welcomed bump,” says Jake Dehne, owner of Lucky Clover Irish Pub and RWB Milwaukee.
509 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
Open 11 a.m.-4 a.m. (Kitchen closes at 3 a.m.)
1013 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 11 a.m.-4 a.m. (Kitchen closes around 2:30-3 a.m.)
142 W. WISCONSIN AVE.
Open 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
1033 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 11 a.m.-3 a.m. (Kitchen closes at 12 a.m.)
Oak Barrel Public House will be hosting Kicks and Cocktails, a ticketed event from the Black Conservative Federation on Wednesday, July 17, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
1044 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; Monday, July 15 and Thursday, July 18.
Monday night is a ticketed RNC event, Jamboree at the RNC, running 9 p.m.-3 a.m.
746 N. JAMES LOVELL ST.
Open 11 a.m.-4 a.m.
1110 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 11 a.m., with the kitchen closing at 11 p.m. The bar will close around 2:30 a.m. but may stay open later depending on business.
1007 N. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
Open 11 a.m-2 a.m.
The Hard Zone
(RNC Credentials Required)
320 W. HIGHLAND AVE.
Monday and Thursday: Open 11 a.m.-4 a.m.
Tuesday: Open 6:30 p.m.-4 a.m.
Wednesday: Open 4:30 p.m.-4 a.m.
Drink Wisconsinbly has been named an official RNC watch party location and will be open to all convention attendees, says Marketing Manager Sarah Zweifel.
340 W. KILBOURN AVE.
Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., depending on business.
Wondering why Major Goolsby’s has a spot on the official RNC Map, next to venues like the Baird Center and Fiserv?
“As we understand it, we are on the map simply because getting here might not be super straightforward,” says Manager Drew Olsen. “They were nice enough to specifically put our place on the map, so obviously we’re hoping everyone that comes into town is looking at these maps and thinks, ‘We better check them out!’ [The dot on the map] basically signifies where to enter based on the hard security versus the soft security zone. Hopefully they will get people to understand the routing since we are right on that border.”
1134 N. VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.
Closed to the general public for a private event throughout the entire convention, according to Mecca’s website.
1122 N. VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.
Open noon-2 a.m.
The first floor will be rented out by a political sponsor hosting a cafe with items for sale available to any convention attendees. The second floor will have private events every day, but there will be openings in which anyone can stop in. An outside space with drinks, food and souvenir merchandise will be set up for the event, as well.
333 W. JUNEAU AVE.
Closed through July 19.
420 W. JUNEAU AVE.
Il Cervo: Open 4 p.m.- 2 a.m.
Solomon’s: 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Craft: 6:30 a.m.-2 a.m.
