Four years ago, Paul Mueller opened Hot Water, 818 S. Water St., but the massive lounge occupied only a portion of the space. Mueller, who purchased the building 27 years ago, hoped someday to open a dance club in the remaining 5,000 sq. ft.
Three weeks ago, his vision came to fruition, and he -- along with manager Adam Smith -- opened Wherehouse, a dance club with an emphasis on the word "dance."
"It’s been unbelievable. Phenomenal. Everyone in this city who dances seems to know about us," says Mueller. "Wherehouse is 'Where you meet everybody.'"
Wherehouse and Hot Water are attached, but the two places have separate entrances.
Wherehouse officially opened on June 21 with a tango and mambo performance and DJ Alberto Gomez from Chicago.
Currently, Wherehouse is open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, but Mueller says he plans to have ballroom dances on Sundays -- featuring live bands and orchestras -- in the near future.
Wherehouse is available for private parties and weddings.The venue has already hosted two weddings, says Mueller.
Tuesday night is Salsa Night, with salsa lessons from 8 to 10 p.m. Mueller says Salsa Night has a "family atmosphere," with patrons ranging in age from 21 to 90.
"I’ve seen people bring their mothers and grandmothers here for the dancing," he says.
Hot Water features dancing opportunities other nights of the week. The second and fourth Wednesdays are West Coast Swing Night, and Thursdays are Argentine Tango Night from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and East Coast Swing Night from 8:30 p.m. until close.
Friday nights are LGBTQ Night and every other Friday is Country Night. Wherehouse hosts a special LGBTQ grand opening event on Friday, July 18.
"We are an all-inclusive bar every night of the week," says Mueller. "We invite everyone to come and check this out. I really don’t think there’s anything else like us in the city."
There isn’t a cover charge to get into Wherehouse, except on Salsa Night, when it's $5. Parking is also free and there is a 100-car parking lot next to the building.
Mueller, with Smith’s help, created the original designs for Wherehouse and hired architects to finish the job. He and Smith did much of the interior design work themselves. The club features a 30x50 teak dance floor, exposed brick, a polished stainless steel bar and two refinished construction cranes for decoration.
"We wanted it to look ‘industrial chic’ or ‘upscale industrial,’" says Mueller.
Mueller, 60, worked on Hot Water while he held down a full time job, but then retired to run his bar. "I’m having a great time," he says.
Wherehouse is a non-smoking dance club, but smokers are allowed to light up in the landscaped backyard. Smith says they plan to build a covered outdoor area for smokers in the winter, and that eventually they will add more patio space, too.
Fresh air is an important element to both Mueller and Smith, who installed a 16-ft. ceiling fan to keep air circulating on the dance floor.
"You never have to worry about being sweaty when you’re dancing here," says Mueller.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
