Last week, Slim McGinn officially retired, closing the last of the three bars in the Milwaukee area that he'd owned and operated.
That bar, at 14735 W. Lisbon Rd. in Brookfield, has already been reborn as Bobby's Bar, a sports-themed tavern that hopes to make a difference, owned by Bob Meuler.
According to its website, the bar – which opened this past weekend after doing some painting and other light touchups – will raise money daily for children's charities.
"One dream of ours was to make this business a Children’s Charity Bar and Bobby’s Great Place Good Times will be caring for kids every day," reads the site. "Daily donations will go directly to the designated Children’s Charity of the week or special event."
The first charities that will receive 5 percent of the bar's daily sales are Ronald McDonald House of Eastern Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Make a Wish and JDRF.
According to McGinn, Bobby's will – like its predecessor – serve food, albeit with an, um, slimmed-down menu.
"Slim has built a solid foundation and I will build upon his success with continued great food, drinks and outstanding customer service," Meuler wrote on his website It is the only way I know how to treat people and to do business.
"While the name has changed to Bobby’s Bar Great Place Good Times: several of your favorite food items remain but we will be introducing some new future favorites and expanding business hours to be open every day for lunch and dinner. In addition to the Sunday Brunch, it is in the planning to open for breakfast Friday and Saturday."
Stay tuned for a full Milwaukee Talks interview with McGinn – who has retired after decades in the Brew City bar business – coming soon.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
