In anticipation of nearly 50,000 visitors for the Republican National Convention, a new law allows bars in Milwaukee and surrounding counties to stay open until 4 a.m. next week.
But convention attendees looking to keep the party going until dawn might find their options are mixed. Several counties have passed an ordinance to opt out of the new exception, and some bar and restaurant managers say they are not sure yet whether staying open late will be worth the staffing and security hurdles.
Here's what to know about the new law and which bars will (and won't be) taking advantage of it.
When can bars stay open late?
Under the new law, bars and restaurants in certain counties can stay open until 4 a.m. between July 15 and July 19. The RNC runs from July 15-18.
Ordinarily, these businesses must close at 2 a.m. on weekdays and 2:30 a.m. on weekends.
Which bars in Milwaukee are staying open late?
Here are businesses currently planning to stay open late next week. Most are staying open until 4 a.m., unless otherwise noted, and this list will be updated as we hear from more bars and restaurants about their convention plans.
- The Wicked Hop, 345 N. Broadway St.
- The Edison, 322 N. Broadway St. (Extending normal weekday hours to stay open until 12 a.m. on RNC days.)
- East Town Kitchen + Bar, 625 N. Milwaukee St. in the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown (Extending normal weekday hours to stay open until 2:30 a.m. on RNC days.)
- Mason Street Grill, inside the Pfister Hotel at 425 E. Mason St.
- Blu, inside the Pfister Hotel at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
- Harp Irish Pub, 113 E. Juneau Ave.
- Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria, 249 N. Water St. (Extending normal weekday hours to stay open until 12 a.m. on RNC days.)
- The Brewery, 1101 N. Water St.
- Red Rock Saloon, 1225 N. Water St.
- The Bar, inside the Saint Kate hotel at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave.
- Proof Pizza, inside the Saint Kate hotel at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. (open until 2 a.m. on RNC days)
- Giggly, inside the Saint Kate hotel at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. (open until 2 a.m. on RNC days)
- Aria, inside the Saint Kate hotel at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave. (open until 12 a.m. on RNC days)
- Milwaukee Brat House, 1013 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
- Oak Barrel Public House, 1033 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
- Miller Time Pub, inside the Hilton Milwaukee City Center at 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
- On Tap, 1203 N. 10th St.
- Vagabond, 1122 N. Edison St.
- Trinity Three Irish Pubs, 125 E. Juneau Ave. (Open from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. on July 16 and 17.)
- LaCage NiteClub, 801 S. 2nd St. (Along with staying open until 4 a.m., the club will feature a special line-up of DJs and late-night food options, according to owner David Wolz.)
- Jack's American Pub, 1323 E. Brady St.
- Jo-Cats Pub, 1311 E. Brady St.
- Nomad World Pub, 1401 E. Brady St.
- The High Note Karaoke Lounge, 645 N. James Lovell St.
- Bar at The Kitchen at Potawatomi Sportsbook, inside the Potawatomi Casino Hotel at 1721 W. Canal St. (Casino floor beverage service will also run until 4 a.m. on RNC days)
- ElevenHundred Bar & Lounge, inside the Potawatomi Casino Hotel at 1721 W. Canal St. (Open until 4 a.m. on July 18)
- Bar 360, inside the Potawatomi Casino Hotel at 1721 W. Canal St. (Open until 4 a.m. on July 18)
Which bars are still on the fence about staying open?
Several managers and bartenders we spoke to said they're still up in the air on a 4 a.m. closing. Bar staff plan to gauge the crowd and foot traffic each night of the convention before making a call on whether to stay open a few extra hours.
“If we have a great crowd, and things are going well, we’ll keep it going," said Carly Minor, manager of The Garage and HiHat Lounge on Brady Street.
Erika Cropp, manager at WurstBar MKE, said the bar's decision also hinges on the crowd later at night.
“If it’s 2 a.m. and no one’s here, we’ll close," she said. "Otherwise, we’re playing it by ear."
Here are some bars that are currently planning on keep regular hours but may stay open later:
- The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward, 143 W. St Paul Ave.
- City Social Bar and Grill, 530 N. Water St.
- SafeHouse Milwaukee, 779 N Front St.
- Newsroom Pub, 137 E Wells St.
- WurstBar MKE, 1239 E. Brady St.
- Nashville North, 1216 E. Brady St.
- HiHat Lounge and The Garage, both at 1709 N. Arlington Place
Which communities have opted out of the law?
The law allowed bars and restaurants in 14 counties to stay open late: Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock, Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Sheboygan, and Fond du Lac.
However, some suburban municipalities have passed ordinances to opt out of the new law. The communities that went with this route include the Village of Germantown, the City of Oconomowoc, the Town of Oconomowoc and the Village of Shorewood.
How can you get to bars and restaurants from Fiserv Forum and other RNC sites?
From the RNC sites, bars and restaurants on Water Street and North Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Drive will be the most accessible by foot for convention attendees. Bars in the Third Ward and on Brady Street are about a 20- to 30-minute walk and five-minute drive away, barring convention traffic.
The Hop, the city's free streetcar, is also currently running seven days a week until 12 a.m. from the lakefront to the east side. The streetcar's Jackson at Juneau stop is about a 15-minute walk from Fiserv Forum.
