The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, located in the Edward Townsend Mix-designed former Grand Avenue Congregational Church, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., announced that it will close and sell its building.
The announcement came in a social media post on Friday.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share share some difficult news; due to ongoing financial challenges, the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center will be suspending operations by the end of October 2025," the post read.
"As we begin the process of responsibly winding down our operations, we are also exploring partnerships with individuals or organizations who can assist with the transition – specifically in helping us identify opportunities for the sale of our historic building and other organizational assets. Our goal is to ensure that these resources are thoughtfull managed and, where possible, support future cultural or community efforts."
The ICHC was founded in 1992 and has presented many concerts by the likes of the Tommy Makem, Cherish the Ladies and Tannahill Weavers, and a variety of cultural events, including Hogmanay celebrations. It has also hosted weddings and other events.
The center has also served as a home to organizations including The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin and Immigrant Library.
It acquired the 1887 former church building in 1996 from the congregation for $1.
In August 1957, the church was the site of the first Milwaukee appearance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
You can read more about the building and see more photogrsaphs in this Urban Spelunking story.
Specific questions about the closing can be emailed to closinginfo@ichc.net.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
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