The first thing to know about The New Fashioned (1122 Vel R. Phillips Ave.) is that it’s big. The former Punch Bowl Social space in the Deer District clocks in at two floors and 25,000 square feet. Milwaukee’s own Bars & Recreation—the company behind numerous successful “experience” bars like AXE MKE, NorthSouth Club, and Nine Below—fills the space with seemingly anything and everything. There are 50 taps of local beers and cocktails on a massive “self-serve pour wall.” There are multiple bars and multiple “HyperBowling” lanes. There’s food like butter burgers, cheese curds, and custard. There’s “street curling” on the second-floor deck, darts tucked away in a corner, and video gambling machines scattered throughout. Hell, there’s even a fireplace. And pull tabs!
The second thing to know about The New Fashioned is that it’s pretty great. Based on our first-impression visit Tuesday night, the place seems like a no-brainer for the Deer District. It’s big, bold, and stuffed with things to keep folks busy before or after Bucks games (or during any random night, for that matter). And best of all, it’s local! The short-lived Punch Bowl Social was a national chain; The New Fashioned wears its Milwaukee/Wisconsin pride on its sleeve. (Hello, Charlie Berens brandy on tap.)
So, ahead of The New Fashioned’s April 6 grand opening, here are 19 pictures of the new joint, plus one picture of last night’s nice sunset we saw while walking home. Also: the “self-serve pour wall” works via an electronic wristband that keeps track of how many drinks you’ve had and how many ounces you’ve poured. Neat! Also also: yep, that’s Milwaukee weather guru Bert Lauderdale in the second-to-last shot. Good seeing you last night, Bert!
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