Lee's Luxury Lounge shuttered in May after almost 20 years of service. This week, The Vanguard ownership group – operated by Chris Schulist and Jim McCann – announced they bought the building, 2988 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., with investment partners Holly Doar of Blackbird Bar, John Dykstra from GIK Acoustics and John Kuester of Kid Millions Record Sales / Milwaukee record label Dope Folks Records.
The plan is to open a new bar and event space in early 2024. The name of the concept has not been announced.
The owners did report, however, that the building will receive "some renovations while keeping the Midcentury neighborhood bar vibe" and that part of the space will become a "listening lounge" featuring local and national vinyl record DJs.
This will be Wisconsin's first listening lounge. The concept originated in Japan and has recently become popular in the US.
"The idea is to be able to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy many different styles of music in a comfortable, welcoming environment,” says McCann.
The bar will serve draft cocktails, beer, wine and a large variety of N/A beverages. A small food menu is also in the works.
"Ultimately we want our neighbors to view us as something that is adding to the uniqueness of Bay View. We want to be something positive for the community," says Schulist.
Stayed tuned for a First Look of the new space from OnMilwaukee after it opens in 2024.
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.
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