The State Journal published a gallery of historic Madison bars and got a tremendous response. Many readers loved the project and also suggested more bars that should be on the list. In that spirit, here is Part 2. This is the second installment in a series on old bars and restaurants we still miss.
Amber Grid
The Amber Grid, 1313 University Ave., is pictured here in 1987. The bar was popular with medical workers because of its proximity to the old University Hospital. It was torn down in 2008 to build a research facility.
Flamingo Bar
The Flamingo Bar, 636 State St., was also known as the Grotto, a restaurant-bar run by Al and Mary Schiro. Patrons walked down a set of steps to the basement bar. Drinks were garnished with homemade olives. The Schiros ran the Grotto from 1949 to 1980, when it was then sold and operated as the Flamingo. The photo here was taken of the exterior in 1980. The space later became the City Bar.
Arnold's Breeze Inn
You can see the Heileman's sign on Arnold's Breeze Inn, 1006 E. Washington Ave. It was torn down in 1991 to make room for a new building by a neighboring business. The Breeze Inn was operated by the Arnold family for years and was known for its juke box.
Badger Tavern
Joe Clementi bought the Badger Tavern, 1407 University Ave., in 1959 and ran it until 1990. The building had been the Badger Tavern since 1933, and Clementi liked the name, so he kept it. The vintage token pictured here displays the bar's address on one side and "good for 5 cents in trade" on the back.
Brathaus Too
Brathaus Too was located on West Mifflin Street in the 1980s. Gary “Jet” Jackson opened the second location after buying the iconic Brathaus Restaurant on State Street in the 1970s. A bar, Jet's Place, was in the basement on Mifflin.
Brothers Bar & Grill
Brothers Bar & Grill, 704 University Ave., was closed in 2012 when the UW Board of Regents used its power of eminent domain to demolish the property to make way for a new music school building. Over the years, other bars operated in that spot, including Joe Hart's and the Store.
Buck's Madison Square Garden
Buck's Madison Square Garden occupied three different spots -- the longest being 20 years at 113 N. Hamilton St., just off Capitol Square. It was run by James "Buck" Dailey. In 2000, the moved to 802 Regent St., where it stayed until he sold the business in 2010. But Dailey launched his very first Buck's at the top of Hamilton Street in 1978, until he moved it across the street to 113 N. Hamilton two years later.
Bull Feathers
Bull Feathers bar, 303 N. Henry St., later known as Ram Head Rathskeller, closed after facing police scrutiny over underage drinking. In this file photo from 2006, police talk with women who were caught for underage drinking there.
Bunky's Nightclub
Bunky's Nightclub opened in the 1970s at the corner of Park and Regent streets and operated into the 1980s as a popular spot for live music. It was also home to Pino's Restaurant.
Chesty's
Chesty's, 523 State St., was a campus-area dive bar in the location later taken over by Mondays. Chesty's, shown here in 1974, was located across from The Pub.
Copper Grid
The Copper Grid, 1509 Monroe St., was a big part of the surrounding neighborhood and Badger game days from 1965 to 2000, when it was sold and became the Grid Iron. A few years after that, the building was torn down to make room for a boutique hotel. In this picture from 1998, Henry Steinhauer plays accordion while son Duane plays the tuba at the Copper Grid.
East End
The East End bar, 2053 Atwood Ave., was once a popular venue for live music. It formerly housed Fielder's Choice bar and, before that, a bowling alley.
Friendly Tavern
The pre-1955 Friendly Tavern, located at East Washington Avenue and Baldwin Street, is pictured here. John DiCristina founded the tavern in the 1930s and found a good clientele among the workers from the Gisholt Machine Co. across the street. The building was torn down after DiCristina died in 1955 but rebuilt and run by his family until 1988, when it changed hands. The bar, 1304 E. Washington Ave., kept the name Friendly Tavern for several years before becoming Pug Mahone's and, later, the Baldwin Street Grille.
Fielder's Choice
Fielder's Choice was located at 2053 Atwood Ave. and later became the East End, a venue for live music. The establishment is pictured here in 1985. The building, built in 1925, operated initially as the East Side Arcade Bowling Alley.
Going My Way
Going My Way, 111 W. Main St. off the Square, was a gay dance club that opened in 1977 and operated into the early 1980s. An opening poster is pictured here.
Golden Pheasant tavern
The Golden Pheasant tavern, 2109 S. Park St., was open for many years. It closed in 1989 when its 85-year-old owner, Elizabeth “Liza” Burgett, became ill. She and her first husband had originally opened the business as a grocery store in 1932 and turned it into a tavern after Prohibition ended. Burgett is pictured here in 1984.
Hardy's Assembly Tavern
Hardy's Assembly Tavern operated at 1421 Regent St. This vintage postcard is circa 1930-1945.
Inferno
The Inferno Nightclub, 1718 Commercial Ave., closed in May 2015. Owner Apollo Marquez, photographed here in December 2009, opened the dance bar in 1996.
J.T. Whitney's
J.T. Whitney's, 674 S. Whitney Way, opened in October 1995 and operated until 2009, when it was sold. Pictured here in 2006 are mugs from the bar's Mug Club, which at one point had 650 members and a waiting list. The site housed many businesses over the years, including Kicks nightclub, Bishop's Buffet, Rio's Mexican restaurant and the Tiajuana Surfside nightclub. It's now home to Vintage Brewing Co.
Jet's Place
Jet’s Place was a basement bar below the Brathaus Too on West Mifflin Street in the 1980s. Gary “Jet” Jackson owned the place.
Joe Hart's
Joe Hart's operated at 704 University Ave. Over the years, the site also housed the Store and Brothers Bar & Grill.
Joe's Place
Joe's Place, located at 786 W. Washington Avenue in the Greenbush neighborhood, is pictured here in 1931.
Jolly Tavern
The Jolly Tavern, 848 Williamson St., is pictured here in 1944. At the time, it was owned by Harold Reider.
Ken's Bar and Grill
Ken's Bar and Grill, 117 S. Butler St., was known for hosting live music -- particularly the Cork 'n' Bottle String Band on Wednesday nights -- before it was sold in November 2002. The band is pictured here playing at Ken's in 2001. The bar was closed and eventually torn down.
Pirate Ship
The Pirate Ship, 116 N. Fairchild St., hosted live music for many years. Trumpet player Doc DeHaven, pictured in this poster here, played there for 14 years several times a week. The Pirate Ship was also a gay bar and then a sports bar named Lundeen’s before being taken over by Dotty Dumplings Dowry. Eventually, the building was torn down as part of the plan to build the Overture Center.
Merlyn's Night Club
Merlyn's Night Club, 311 State St., hosted many live music shows, including an up-and-coming U2, before closing in 1984. Pictured here is the club's door, part of an exhibit at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in 2012.
Mass Appeal
The nightclub Mass Appeal, 114 King St., opened in 1996, taking over the spot formerly known as The Chamber. This picture shows the Mass Appeal in 1998. It closed in 2000.The site was also operated as the King Club and Woof's.
McNamara's Pub
McNamara’s Pub opened in 1981 on King Street in the building that formerly housed the Main-King Tap. The picture here, taken in July 1981, shows people installing the glass sign out front.
Packer Inn
The Packer Inn used to be located at 300 Cottage Grove Road. Before that, it was the site of Bewick's Bar. The building now houses Chief's Tavern.
Paramount Music Hall
Paramount Music Hall, 103 N. Park St., closed in 1996 after financial and security problems linked to hip hop concerts. It was the city's largest live music club at one time. The venue operated under other names over the years, including the Stone Hearth, R&R Station and Bermuda's.
Glenn 'n' Ann's Cozy Inn
Glenn 'n' Ann's Cozy Inn, 223 N. Frances St., opened in 1946 and operated until it was sold in 1968 to Marshall "Marsh" Shapiro, who turned it into the Nitty Gritty. Pictured here are the Cozy Inn's proud new owners behind the bar in 1946: Glendon and AnnDell Hierlmeier.
Rusty's Bar
Rusty's, 6413 University Ave. in Middleton, was an icon among local taverns until it was demolished in 2008 to make way for a Sonic restaurant. In this photo, Brandi Sigurslid tends bar in December 1996. The tavern had been open for 46 years.
Arian's Tavern
Arian's Tavern, 2517 University Ave., is pictured here in 1944. The bar later became Merk's Bar, the Trophy Tap and the Blue Moon.
R&R Station
R&R Station, 103 N. Park St., opened in 1991 as a venue for live music. Pictured here is a mosh pit during a Jesus Lizard performance in 1994. The location also operated under other names, including the Stone Hearth and Paramount Music Hall.
Lundeen's
Lundeen's, a sports bar at 116 N. Fairchild St., later became home to Dotty Dumpling's Dowry. At one point, it was also the Pirate Ship, a gay bar.
Varsity Bar
The Varsity Bar on State Street was also fondly called the "Var Bar" by its patrons. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson worked there while a student. He can be seen in this photo standing in the back on the left.
The Pub
The Pub, 552 State St., closed in 2010 after nearly 70 years in business. It was replaced by Whiskey Jack’s. The Pub is pictured here in 2004.
Throwback gallery: About the slideshow
Information and images for this slideshow largely came from newspaper archives, with special help from stories written by Doug Moe. Newspaper librarian Dennis McCormick also assisted with research. Some images came from the Wisconsin Historical Society. Don't forget to check out Part 1 of our bar retrospective slideshow. Interested in more throwback galleries? Check out our Old Restaurants slideshows: Part 1 and Part 2.
Teryl Franklin | Wisconsin State Journal
Senior editor for audience development
Teryl Franklin is the senior editor for audience development for the Wisconsin State Journal. She has worked at the paper since 1996 in a variety of roles, including business editor, city editor and managing editor.
In this Series
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Browse our galleries of throwback photos from the Wisconsin State Journal archives.
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