Neighborhood taverns practically drown North Avenue. And the latest sports bar to anchor the west end of this street, the End Zone at 5930 W. North Ave., a work in progress, is sure to spruce up the ordinary corner bar scene on this side of town.

End Zone opened in January and bar manager Danicha Brown says, "So far, it's been great. We haven't advertised, but word of mouth is helping out a lot."

Many of the old neighborhood joints in the Wauwatosa area of North Avenue have seen better days. But the vibrant new sign outside End Zone signals that there's been a makeover at what was once Gaslite West, and most recently Spice Island.

Gone is the old marquee with images of food and beer from the days when it was Ed's Steak and Stein. Now windows open up to the street and a shiny wooden bar sits inside, though the rest of the interior appears largely unchanged.

Though the grill portion of End Zone was not in operation when we visited, it was slated to open soon.

"The kitchen will be running next month with burgers, chicken and fish," Brown says.

A sports bar exists first and foremost as a destination for big games, and End Zone certainly fits the bill in this category. One big screen television and several smaller ones make it the perfect setting to watch your favorite team.

Plenty of recreational opportunities exist at End Zone, too. In addition to two pool tables, there are dartboards, an air hockey table, Pop-a-Shot, video games and a jukebox, making this one of the West Side's best spots for those looking for a little fun and games.

But the entertainment doesn't stop there. "Every Tuesday, there is karaoke with Ran the Man," Brown says. "We're working on our specials, and they'll be coming out soon."

Call (414) 258-8075 for more details.