Former East Side bar owner John Sidoff shared a number of posts on Facebook Wednesday saying he was buying Izzy's Tap at 3783 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in St. Francis along with two partners.
On Thursday morning, he posted the whole thing was a hoax.
Sidoff, who owned Hooligan's and later Von Trier, said he and his wife Cindy and former Von Trier owner Mark Eckert had gotten back into the business, buying Izzy’s Tap at 3783 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in St. Francis. Their purchase would have ended one family’s 84-year tenure at the bar.
"It was a joke," Sidoff tells me. "Had been drinking with Mark and thought it would be funny. Seriously, at 71 I’d really be an idiot to get back in the business. "
John Sidoff announced the faux purchase in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing:
“The new Eastside. Mark Eckert, John and Cindy Sidoff have purchased Izzy’s in Saint Francis. It will be a combination of Hooligans, Von Trier & Ma Fischer’s. Open tomorrow noon until we pass out. Looking for a staff that can stay awake until after cocktail hour.”
The Sidoffs were longtime owners of Hooligan’s and Eckert owned Von Trier for many years before selling it to the Sidoffs in 2009. The Sidoffs sold Hooligans in 2013 and Von Trier six years later.
Izzy’s is owned by Bill Franz and the sale would have closed his family’s connection to the bar, which dates back to 1939 when his grandmother Magdalen Brlek bought a bakery in the Town of Lake and secured a Class B tavern license.
Magdalen Brlek ran the place – named in honor of her late husband Izadore – until her death in 1973, at which point her daughters Anne and Marge took over, along with Marge’s husband Len Wilke.
Later, their nephew, Bill Franz – son of another sister, Mary – took over.
A further post from Sidoff on Wednesday continued the ruse...
“Hours to be determined depends on our nap times. For all of you who thought Mike Romans had unfriendly service wait until you visit us. We’ve put Cindy in charge of hospitality so the bar is pretty low. Please join us during the holiday season if you have nothing else to do! Mention this post and maybe we’ll give you a cheap shot. Probably not.”
Another asked friends to make suggestions for the future of the place.
Just like Elon Musk we are taking a vote please tell us what you’d like to see at the former Izzy’s become.
1. Mark wants a German Bar
2. John wants a Super Bar
3. Cindy wants a Disco BarPlease vote needless to say we could careless what you think just like Elon.
(What’s a Super Bar, you ask? Read this.)
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.
