The timing was perfect: Mike Vitucci was ready to sell his Belmont Tavern and Lauren and Mike Foy were looking for a lounge of their own. The exchange was fairly fast and friendly – the couple closed on the property in May and opened a remodeled and refreshed Foy’s on July 10.
“We toyed with different names, but when I told friends our ideas they were basically like, ‘that’s great, but we’re all gonna just call it ‘Foy’s,’” says Mike.
The property was in excellent shape, but the Foys had a new vision for the space. The entire southern wall is a mural, painted by Jimmy Cobb, that's based on the view from the windows of the couple's Up North cabin. Serene shades of blue, lush plants and a bathtub – we’ll get to that in a minute – create a calm and casual-yet-sophisticated environment.
“I wanted this to be a place where someone could come after a wedding at The Pfister and enjoy a pretty cocktail or come after the Brewers beat the Cubs for a drink,” says Lauren.
Making fun things happen at Foy's
General Manager Claire Jacques created the cocktail list and will continue to add to it regularly. The spirit offerings include 54 different types of gin, but Mike is quick to point out they aren’t solely a “gin bar.”
During our visit, Jacques crafted the Bathtub Gin – made with St. George’s Valley Gin, Compari, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup and sour soda – and the Brown Eyed Woman mixed with Elijah Craig bourbon, cherry rose syrup, lemon juice and topped with Prosecco.
“We’re making some fun things happen,” says Jacques.
Currently, Foy’s offers complimentary snacks and hopes to someday serve appetizers. A DJ booth and live music will soon be part of the Foy’s experience as well.
Why is there a black bathtub at Foy's?
The Foy’s knew they wanted to have a gin-focused menu, so when their graphic designer was creating the logo, they incorporated a bathtub, which is a nod to “bathtub gin” that was made in parts of Europe and in the United States during the Prohibition Era. When the Foy’s saw the antique tub, they were surprised by a coincidence.
“We had that same bathtub in our garage,” says Lauren.
When the Foy’s remodeled their bathroom about 10 years ago, they couldn’t part with the bathtub – all four of their children were bathed in that tub. So they moved it to the garage.
“It’s been full of soccer balls and ice skates for ages,” says Mike.
But when they saw the bathtub logo, they knew the beloved tub belonged in the bar. And customers took a liking to it immediately. It's already become an Instagram thing to take a photo while sitting in the tub.
Both of the Foys have a long history in the service industry. Lauren’s father, R.C. Schmidt, opened the iconic RC’s on Milwaukee’s East Side as well as Louise’s Trattoria and Water Street Brewery. Mike worked at Water Street Brewery, as well as Trinity and The Harp. The couple, who live on the East Side, have four children ranging in age from 11 to 17.
“We are definitely ready to do our own thing,” says Mike.
Foy's is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays; 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays.
Follow Foy's on Instagram.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
