By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Oct 23, 2007 at 12:49 PM

First Goldmann’s closed at the end of September. Then Art’s Concertina Bar. Then Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge. These places were Milwaukee’s pillars of retro quirkiness. They were hip without trying to be hip.

Surely, there are still places like this left in Brew City. So, let’s give ‘em a shout out, and try to visit so they don’t go by the wayside as well. Whether they’re lounges, restaurants, shops or bowling alleys, these slice-of-life establishments have unrivaled signature idiosyncrasies. Please add others using the talkback feature.

1.    Albanese’s Tavern, 701 E. Keefe Ave. This mom-and-pop Italian joint has Sinatra on the juke and jugs of homemade wine.

2.    Angelo’s Piano Lounge, 1686 N. Van Buren St. More Italian kitsch, but with big martinis, live piano playing and 60-somethings in cocktail dresses serving drinks.

3.    At Random, 2501 S. Delaware Ave. Get a Tiki Love Bowl while you still can.

4.    Falcon Bowl, 801 E. Clarke St., Holler House, 2042 W. Lincoln Ave. and Koz’s Mini Bowl, 2078 S. 7th St. Small, manual bowling alleys. Koz’s and Holler House have human pinsetters.

5.    Maria’s Pizzaria (sic), 5025 W. Forest Home Ave. This is the kind of joint Buca di Beppo tries to emulate. It’s kitschy without trying to be kitschy. (Although it can't match the original Greenfield Avenue location! -ed.)

6.    Owl Imports, 7546 W. Greenfield Ave. Features a kooky collection of clocks, beer steins and figurines.

7.    Stemper’s, 1125 E. Potter Ave.  Stop by to see an incredible selection of church supplies, including communion wafers, which are available white- or wheat-flavored.


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.