In a world in which craft beer has been flat with many predicting copious closings, openings in the Milwaukee area have been matching if not eclipsing closings That trend continues with news that Lombardi Brewing Company is planning to take over the old City Lights Brewing space, 2200 W. Mount Vernon Ave., in the Menomonee Valley.
The brewery, founded in 2017, is owned and operated by John Lombardi, Amanda Gethers and Tim Kunze. The Milwaukee location will be its first permanent home.
Lombardi is the grandson of late Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
Lombardi expects to open in late July with events and special releases.
“We are excited to bring our craft and industry expertise to Milwaukee under the Lombardi brand," said Gethers, in a statement issued Thursday. "Providing a thoughtful, taproom-centric experience that delights is our intent.
“This represents so much more than just opening a brewery. It’s an opportunity to rebrand, grow, and firmly establish us as part of Milwaukee’s vibrant and innovative brewing
community. It’s an exciting new chapter for Lombardi Brewing Company.”
Gethers recently applied for an occupancy permit for the former brewery and taproom, which City Lights closed in early January.
Lombardi Brewing said in a statement that it will brew its beer both at the new location and at District 1, where it has been brewed in the past.
Gethers is a co-owner and brewer at District 1 Brewing in Stevens Point, which opened in 2020.
Before the recent posts, Lombardi Brewing’s Facebook page hadn’t been active since 2021, when it shared that its contract-brewed Golden Lager and Amber Lager were being released in bars.
“We are launching beer into select markets,” a post announced that December. “We are starting with our Golden Lager and then will bring in an Amber lager as well as seasonal releases for 2022.
“Our vision is to bring a taproom to (Green Bay) when feasible, but until then, we will have draft and packaged beer brewed from friends in Stevens Point and Wausau, under our supervision. It’s going to be an exciting year and adding Lombardi beer to your good times, will be well played. We have kegs and cans available now with a brew day underway!”
City Lights Brewing opened in an Alexander C. Eschweiler-designed former Milwaukee Gas Light Co. coal gasification plant in January 2017.
City Lights, in which former Miller Coors master brewer Dr. David Ryder – who Brewbound called “arguably the world’s most accomplished brewer” – was involved, became known for its great patio, its burger and a beer deal, and some beloved beers like a Coconut Porter.
But the brewery was facing issues – no surprise considering more breweries closed than opened in 2024 for the first time in nearly 20 years, according to The New York Times – and paused production in May 2024.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dec. 31, City Lights announced that Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 would be its last day of business, adding cryptically that, "Our story doesn’t end here, and we hope to carry forward the spirit of what we’ve created in new ways in the future."
John Lombardi said the Valley location – owned by ZHV LLC – is a perfect site for Lombardi Brewing Company.
"The look and feel of the building, combined with its brewing potential, made this the perfect spot for our first taproom,” he said. “We see this as a community hub, a place where people can come together, celebrate life, and enjoy great beer.”
(NOTE: This post was updated with information from a Lombardi Brewing Company press release issued Thursday, May 29.)
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.
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 be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
