The mid-'90s country bar craze didn't last too long, but country music is very strong in the Milwaukee area and, in similar sized cities like Cincinnati, places like Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill have helped transform the old notion of the country bar with bar and grill concepts.
So, it's no surprise that Sullivan's, 1227 N. Water St., is changing its concept to "a country/rock n' roll hotspot" to be called Red Rock Saloon.
A post on Craigslist says that the current upscale sports bar owned by Joe and Angie Sorge (Swig, AJ Bombers, Water Buffalo) will become "Red Rock Saloon, Milwaukee's only a country/rock n' roll hotspot" and "is now hiring all positions."
The Water Street location has been a number establishments through the years. From Luke's Sports Spectacular to 1225 Water to Swig to Sullivan's. Red Rock Saloon is scheduled to open in September.
I'll have more information soon, but I do know that Red Rock will serve food too. It's already scheduled to participate in WMSE's annual Food Slam event on October 1.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
