History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs

List of LGBT Bars in Milwaukee in the 1970s              <--Bars in the 1960s    Bars in the 1980s-->
Sorted Chronologically (by Bar Number)
Total bars in existence this decade: 61

Bar No. Name Address Years
1 Mint Bar 422 W State St 49-86
9 Belmont Hotel Coffee Shop 751 N 4th St 62-70
10 Seaway Inn restr+bar 744 N Jefferson 62-71
11 Royal Hotel Bar 435 W Michigan 45-73
12 Antlers Hotel (Wisconsin Hotel) 616 N 2nd St 62-77
19 Club 546, Michelle's (aka Stud Club) 546 E Michigan 64-73
20 Jimmy's HiFi Lounge (above Swittel's) 1187 N 68th St 64-74
21 Loop Cafe (after hours) 603 N 5th St 65-70
22 Pirate's Den (formerly The Forum) 1801 N 12th St 65-71
23 Grand Prix Lounge 144 E Juneau 65-71
24 Your Place (1965-89 and 1993-94) 813 S First St 65-89
26 Castaways South 196 S 2nd St 66-71
28 This Is It 418 E Wells St 68-++
29 Rooster 181 S 2nd St 68-71
30 Ten Hundred East 1000 E North Ave 68-83
33 Nite Beat 183 S 2nd St 69-72
34 Gayspot Tavern 1438 W Arthur Ave 70
35 Buchaneer Hotel Restr+Bar 5th + Michigan 70
36 Buckskin Inn 435 W Michigan 70-71
37 Cove Bar (aka Mickey's Cove, briefly called Backroom) 157 S 1st St 70-73
38 New Yorker Lounge 605 N 5th St 71
39 Marie's Get Involved Lounge 1801 N 12th St 71
40 Hunters Club 649 N 7th St 71-72
41 River Queen (aka Sidedoor, Jocks) 402 N Water St 71-79
42 Beer Garden (with restaurant) 3715 W Vliet St 71-89
43 Neptune Kane + Humboldt 72
44 Jamies 196 S 2nd St 72-73
45 Wreck Room 266 E Erie St 72-96
46 Carrie's 181 S 2nd St 73
47 Flame, the 181 S 2nd St 73
48 Riviera Show Lounge 183 S 2nd St 73-80?
49 Factory (legendary disco bar; also called Marquee, Inferno, Loading Dock) 158 N Broadway 73-82
50 Dionysus 183 S 2nd St 74
51 Lost & Found 625 E St. Paul 74
52 Ballgame 196 S 2nd St 74-++
53 C'est La Vie 231 S 2nd St 74-08
54 Swittel's (see also Jimmy's HiFi Lounge) 1187 N 68th St 74-77
55 Leaded Shade 157 S 1st St 74-79
56 Cafe Melange 720 N Old World Third St 74-96
57 Martins 1800 N Arlington 75-76
58 Finale 808 E Center St 75-85
59 Mister Z's (to become Gary's) 219 S 2nd St 76
60 Decision 819 S 2nd St 76
61 Gary's (disco; to become Circus, then Club 219) 219 S 2nd St 76
62 M & M Club 124 N Water St 76-06
63 Hideaway 819 S 2nd St 76-77
64 Advent 500 S 5th St 76-77
65 Empire Lounge 716 N Plankinton 76-77
66 Oregon House 235 S 2nd St 76-78
79 Red Corvette 2023 S Kinnickinnic 76-79
67 Circus 219 S 2nd St 76-80
68 Black Forest Inn 814 S 2nd St 76-81
69 Sugar Shack 135 E National 76-83
70 Teddy's 1434 N Farwell 77
71 Club 219 219 S 2nd St 77-05
72 Baron / Red Baron 625 E St Paul St 77-81
73 On Broadway 618 N Broadway 78
74 Kisses 132 E Juneau 78-80
75 Park Avenue (gay Sundays only; called Sundays) 500 N Water St 79-83
76 Lost & Found 618 N 27th St 79-84
77 Phoenix 235 S 2nd St 79-93

Credits: concept and format by Don Schwamb.
Information compiled by Don Schwamb;
maps created by Tom Brittnacher.
Last updated: July-2009.