In this special edition of “New and wonderful things,” we’re taking a pause from development news and instead rounding up all the things that are CLOSED or are CLOSING in Milwaukee. Here are some of them, brought to you by GTG Home Buyers.
• Downtown strip club Silk on Water, located just off of Water Street at 144 E. Juneau Ave., is temporarily closed. The business has cited violence in the Water Street bar district as the reason for the pause.
“The ongoing incidents of violence in the Water Street and Juneau Avenue district have created conditions we cannot in good conscience ask our guests and team to navigate. Safety comes first—always,” Silk wrote on Facebook over the weekend. “This is not goodbye. We are actively working alongside Milwaukee city leaders, local businesses, and community partners to advocate for real, lasting solutions to public safety in our neighborhood. We are in this fight, and we are not standing on the sidelines.” [Facebook]
• Speaking of Water Street, seafood chain Lowcountry has closed its Milwaukee location at 1114 N. Water St. after more than five years in business.
“Five years, thousands of tables, and a whole lot of good nights,” the business wrote on Instagram over the weekend. “We’re grateful for every one of you who walked in, sat down, and made this place feel like ours together.” [Instagram]
• Less than two years after opening in Bay View’s KinetiK building at 2140 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., mother-daughter-owned Burmese restaurant Ni Burmese has closed. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports today that mother Ni Ni Lin has recently struggled with “significant health issues.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• After more than four years in business, popular food truck Sweet Smoke BBQ will hang things up on December 6.
“There isn’t any one single reason that’s moved us to make this decision—it’s no secret how hard life is in the restaurant business right now,” owners Adam and Cindi Beilke wrote on Instagram over the weekend. “We care so much and pour everything we have into trying to give people a special experience when they come out to the truck. In the end, we’re mostly just tired and miss seeing our friends and families.” [Instagram]
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• Longtime East Side Thai restaurant Thai A. Kitchen, located at 2851 N. Oakland Ave., will be closed for at least one month.
“Due to a medical situation involving a member of our family, we will be temporarily closing our restaurant. At this time, we anticipate being closed for approximately one month, but we do not have a definite reopening date,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook over the weekend. “Our family’s health and well-being need to come first, and we appreciate your understanding as we take this time to focus on our loved one and be together as a family.” [Facebook]
• And in case you somehow missed it, Brady Street stalwarts The Garage and Hi Hat Lounge are closed. Like, permanently. A dual sale to new owners is already in the works.
“After several months of discussion, we are pleased to announce the pending sale of The Garage and Hi Hat Lounge to Scott Schaefer (owner of Jack’s American Pub and Milwaukee Brat House) and his business partner Daz Towers,” co-owner Leslie Montemurro announced in an email on Tuesday. “Effective immediately, both establishments are closed. Once the sale is completed and appropriate licenses are in place, the new owners will announce next steps.”
No word yet on whether the new owners will allow Milwaukee rap. [Milwaukee Record]
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