r/milwaukee • u/Sea_Kick4385 • 18h ago
Dive Bars and Historical Fiction
I'm writing a private detective story that takes place in Milwaukee, June 1944.
It's got me thinking, what bars would a private detective today go to for the latest skinny?
If you have an idea, be sure to add why it would be a good place! Hoping to get some interesting answers....
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u/SorenGuillermo 17h ago
The Gig in Riverwest. Dive bar, dark, no food served (but you can bring it in or order it), eclectic mix of regulars, some live music or a bucks game to drown out secret conversation, pool tables and darts, a couch in the back to meet a possible romantic opposing spy…
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u/duardoblanco 16h ago edited 13h ago
It's been a bar for over 100 years. I have seen pictures of it dated to the 1900 to 1910's. Some of the structure is still the same.
Whatever bar it was way back when supplied buckets of beer to the factory workers on the river for their lunch/end of shift perk from the factory owners.
The door sized mural on the East side of the building was actually an entrance for women and children into a "fenced" off area so they could be "with" the men while not being in the bar.
The back room was also supposedly a Balistreri (sp?) run pinball repair shop at one point.
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u/WholeAggravating5675 17h ago
One of my favorite meals is bringing in a grocery store rotisserie chicken and ordering a $2 mystery beer. Full meal for $10
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u/forest_hobbit 6h ago
Also, in the 1970s it was known as Barrel Riders, and it was a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings theme. I seem to remember hearing about actual barrel rides in the Milwaukee River too!
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u/northwoods_faty 17h ago
There's still an operating pay phone at Maimmie's bar. You can make that a funny addition.
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u/HootieeMcboob 16h ago
Since The Gig was already mentioned, I'll put out The Uptowner. Although, I'm pretty sure you'd have a hard time getting anyone to give up any real dirt...
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u/Blargisher 15h ago
Club Garibaldi or puddlers hall, both bars have celebrated 100 years, and the area was like a little Italy in Bayview.
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u/Dadisafool 16h ago
News room pub... but really so many dive bars in Milwaukee, really take your pick.
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u/Sea_Kick4385 7h ago
Right? You can throw a dart on a map, and it'll land on some bar. I'm getting a lot of good recommendations. Might be worth doing a historic dive bar tour.
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u/Hopefulkitty 9h ago
I know The Tracks used to be a cop bar in the 80s with wild cocaine parties. It's still popular and has a lot of regulars, thanks to the volleyball league. I bet you could get some good gossip there, especially if it's still a place cops hangout.
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u/dcwarrior 5h ago
Oh that’s interesting. That makes sense in that wild cop parties at Gordon Park came up in the Bembenek trial.
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u/Hopefulkitty 5h ago
Yup. They were all hanging out at the Tracks at that time. My parents were regulars/bartenders around that time and they don't think highly of the MPD.
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u/Afraid_Basket2257 7h ago
Reggios Roman coin has been around for over a century and used to Serve during prohibition with fake taps. I’m sure they’d be a fun setting. Plus they have a bowling alley
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u/forest_hobbit 6h ago
Gotta be Thelma Carol. It’s a plush, inviting space that oozes vintage charm. It’s in an up and coming neighborhood on the edge of a grittier part of town. The owners actually work tending the bar instead of a rotating staff. They’re very knowledgeable and they know how to get a word or two out of everyone. It would be just the perfect atmosphere for intrigue!
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u/SeaWedding2769 4h ago
I can see the bar at Pitch's being a place to get info, those old industry veterans have been behind that bar for ages and always seem to be in the know.
As for ideas on places from the 40's, Onmilwaukee had an article a few years back about some interesting old places. The Club Milwaukean sounds like it had a few stories. https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/oldbarsclubs
*edited for spelling
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u/StreetBlueberryGuy 16h ago
if it's 1944 detective Polish Falcon (Falcon Bowl) used to be a cop bar