According to Facebook posts, including by a long-time DJ at the bar, Frank’s Power Plant, 2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., in Bay View, has closed.
"So I guess Frank's Power Plant had its final last call last night without warning," posted Brad Serdan, who noted he served as a DJ and talent booker at the bar in the past.
"I don't know any details other than it was sold to a new owner. ... It was a venue with an old school independent attitude unlike any other in Milwaukee."
Another longtime employee confirmed that the building has been sold and has heard that the bar will reopen "with a new look and new people," but could offer no details.
The building had been recently listed for sale for $650,000, including two adjacent houses. The most recent assessment for the commercial building by the City of Milwaukee was $369,000.
Fans of a tavern remaining on the site may find this line in the listing somewhat ominous: "Potential for future redevelopment of two-thirds of a city block."
The bar’s website is no longer active and its Facebook page is also gone. The Twitter feed is still active, but one presumes not for long. Attempts to reach owner Frank Wickert were unsuccessful.
This morning, the Facebook posts about the closing were coming in fast and furious, including this one from talent buyer Gian Chivas Pogliano:
A great live music venue, a great place to play bar dice and throw back a tall boy, Frank’s will be missed.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
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.
