It's no secret that the majority of restaurants fail in their first year. But when Lava Bar and Grill owner Bob Overmier realized that food was not bringing in the numbers he had hoped for, he saw it as an opportunity to reinvent his business and start fresh.
After a slight hiatus, Lava Bar and Grill -- 2028 E. North Ave. -- will reopen Friday as a bar and music venue called Live.
"We're hoping to revive a little bit of the nostalgia of The Globe East days and offer something to North Avenue that it hasn't seen in a while," says Overmier's business partner Jackie Dusosky.
For now, Dusosky says, the kitchen will be closed and bands will set up in the back of the bar. If the kitchen remains closed permanently, their hope is to incorporate a stage in its place. For the time being, however, the fate of food at Live is undetermined.
"We've been meeting with Jim Plaisted and the East Side Association to see what the rules and restrictions are for North Avenue establishments. Depending on what they say, it's possible that we could reopen the kitchen in spring, but serve a limited menu."
When Lava opened its doors in June 2004, it was aiming to be a fine dining restaurant, says Dusosky. "The food was great. It was upscale, yet affordable, but we just weren't being realistic. The bar ended up being the main focus for people when they walked in, and with the success of Hooligans, G Daddy's BBC and Twisted Fork, the food competition in this area is really steep."
But with some fresh paint, a new name and a new focus in mind, Live is ready to offer something new to North Avenue. The live music kicks off Friday night with the Mathew Haeffel Band at 9:30 p.m. There's no cover change to get in.
"We know that we have a great spot in the city and we want to offer something great. We want to bring back a little bit of the culture."
Other local bands and musicians Live has slated for shows are Sidekick Hero, Joe Richter, Scott Hlavenka, Todd Bryant Hansen and Binky Tunny. Dusosky says they are looking for more Milwaukee artists to play at Live. The phone number is (414) 225-0668.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
