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Don’s TV & Repair Speakeasy, 1100 S. 1st St., looks like a spot to bring in your broken appliances for restoration – and people certainly do – but your chances of getting a decadent boozy shake and a cheesy, buttery burger are more likely than clearer reception.
If you know the password to get in, that is.
“If you really wanna know, we’ll give it to you when you make the reservation,” says operations director, Sean Wille (who is also the owner of Movida at Hotel Madrid, 600 S. 6th St. ) “But we want to give customers a fun entry experience, so not knowing the password might be the way to go. Visually, there are many hints in the entryway.”
Once past the fake TV repair shop, guests slip into a retro-techno world of quirk and delight. Old television signs, decades-old desktops, characters from popular ‘80s and ‘90s films and video game systems you haven’t thought about since childhood – or your parents’ childhoods – contribute to the decor.
The menu is a satisfying mix of tried-and-true diner fare, including ground brisket “naughty” smashburgers smothered in signature “angel sauce” cheese; hot-n-crunchy tots; daily fish fries with outstanding horseradish potato pancakes; weekend brunch; "brinner" plates (breakfast for dinner) and more.
The drink menu is a kaleidoscope of fun beverages like build-your-own boozy – or not boozy – shakes topped with full-sized desserts; crockpot-filled, couple-friendly Old Fashioneds; tiki drinks with paper umbrellas; and all your favorite alcoholic and non-alcoholic staples.
We went to Don's on a recent Thursday night, which was 10-cent Martini Night. This was potentially dangerous, but luckily the fine folks at Don’s have the good sense to cut-off customers after three 'tinis.
“It’s a throwback to old school, three-martini lunches,” says Wille. “And if you want a fourth, we’ll happily serve you a cup of coffee for the road.”
Other nightly specials and gimmicks include Fuzzy Dice Night on Mondays when every table rolls a pair of fuzzy dice and if they roll double sixes or ones the entire meal is on the house.
“We’ve had quite a few winners,” says Wille.
Tuesday nights are themed “Penny For Your Tots” and offer up one-cent tater tots and there’s a 99-cent Burger Night on Wednesdays.
The nostalgic, soda-jerk concept originally opened in 2018 as Don’s Diner & Cocktails. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Don’s morphed into a neighborhood grocery store with everyday staple items and became a to-go spot.
The pandemic, although challenging, was also an inspiring testament to the commitment of the community and Don’s customers.
“At one point, we were selling a couple hundred fish fries a night. Cars were looped around the entire block,” says Wille. “This meant a lot to us, so when we were able to reopen, we wanted to bring the best of the best to our customers.”
Willes says his favorite part of the Don’s community is the number of heartwarming conversations it encourages.
“People come here for family nights with kids and grandparents or couples on a date night or with friends or coworkers and just about everyone takes a trip down memory lane and has a story to share about talking on a corded phone or renting a movie from a Blockbuster,” says Wille. “These conversations are really important to us.”
Wanna know the password to get into Don's TV Repeair & Speakeasy? Go here.
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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.
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