After a little over five years in business, Live on North, 2028 E. North Ave., is closing its doors.
The bar, which replaced Lava Bar and Grill in November 2005, remains open through Sunday night, but it won't sit empty for too long. Plans are already in the works to remodel the space and re-open as Hotel Foster, a 1920s hotel lobby-themed bar.
Hotel Foster will be managed equally between three Milwaukee bar veterans: Mike Kempka, formerly of The Nomad World Pub; Doug Williams, whose past experience includes work at The Nomad and Yield; and John Revord, another former Yield employee.
"When you walk in, it'll be an entirely new bar. We're going for a 1920s, pre-Prohibition vibe," said Revord of the new concept.
The trio is even looking to bring in authentic antique decor to enhance the feel of the remodeled space.
"We're fairly lucky to be opening after the smoking ban, so we don't have to worry about smoke or cigarette burns, that sort of thing," he said.
There is no set opening date for the new Hotel Foster, but construction will hopefully be completed by early spring.
"We're hoping to be open for St. Patrick's Day," said Revord.
Contrary to her natural state of being, Renee Lorenz is a total optimist when it comes to Milwaukee. Since beginning her career with OnMilwaukee.com, her occasional forays into the awesomeness that is the Brew City have turned into an overwhelming desire to discover anything and everything that's new, fun or just ... "different."
Expect her random musings to cover both the new and "new-to-her" aspects of Miltown goings-on, in addition to periodically straying completely off-topic, which usually manifests itself in the form of an obscure movie reference.
