According to an employee, Thurman’s 15, 1731 N. Arlington Pl., is closed for repairs. The bar, he says, will reopen in the future but was unsure when. I really hope this is true.

I started going to Thurman’s in the early ‘90s, when I lived on Warren Avenue during college. It was a small, two bedroom apartment, and there were three of us, so Matt had to sleep in a closet.

We spent a lot of time at Thurman’s, drinking $3 pitchers, playing shuffleboard and listening to Grateful Dead tapes of shows during the famous Thursday evening "Tape Nights."

The fact that Thurman’s reminds me of a very carefree time of my life is only part of the reason why I really want to see the bar reopen. It’s such a strange brew of vintage sports memorabilia and jam band culture that, despite what anyone thinks about either of these things, it contributes to Milwaukee’s urban individuality.

Sure, I like many of the trends in new bars: micro beers served in to-go growlers and creatively concocted cocktails infused with homemade bitters.

But there’s also a place in my heart for cheap taps, bad dreadlocks, potlucks during Packers’ game and a dazed dog walking around with a bandana around his neck – as was the way of Thurman’s.