Shout-out to Jack White for kicking in some serious cash for Cactus Club’s new ramp

If you’ve been to Bay View’s Cactus Club in recent weeks, you’ve seen all the construction going on outside. The construction is for Cactus’ long-in-the-works accessibility ramp, part of an equally long-in-the-works Accessibility Initiative. That, in turn, is part of an overall Cactus+ program, which has seen the venerable club expand its programming to art shows, film screenings, workshops, markets, queer-focused events, and much more.

Photo: Cactus Club

Cactus Club successfully raised funds for the ramp in 2024. That was done via traditional fundraising and a series of benefit shows from Bully and ESG, as well as a surprise October 2024 show from Jack White. But last month, the club was hit with an unwelcome surprise: “The city of Milwaukee conditionalized approval of the project, which was fully funded, on a significant curb bump out that costs over $20,000,” the club said. On Sunday, a new fundraising campaign was launched to raise the $20k.

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And on Monday, that $20k goal was reached—thanks not only to oodles of Milwaukeeans, but to a beyond-generous $20,000 donation from—you guessed it!—Jack White. Check it out!

White’s ties to Cactus Club run deep. The White Stripes played their first out-of-state show at the club in 1999, opening for Milwaukee’s own Mistreaters. Former Mistreaters singer and Cactus Club employee Christ Schulist, meanwhile, has served as White’s tour DJ and hype man. In addition to his surprise October Cactus show, White also played a late-night set at The Vanguard (co-owned by Schulist), and donated $15,000 to the recovery fund of Cara Corder, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver outside of Wiggle Room (also co-owned by Schulist).

So shout-out to the Cactus Club for being amazing, and shout-out to Jack White for being amazing. Cool people doing cool things for other cool people. How about that.