By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Oct 24, 2018 at 1:56 PM

Three years ago, OnMilwaukee reported that Buckhead Saloon was closing "for good." Well, for good no more, as it was announced today the popular Old World 3rd Street bar will return to its former location ... kind of.

A reimagined Buckhead Back Bar Saloon will move into the back area of RWB Milwaukee, currently in the former Buckhead space at 1044 N. Old World 3rd Street. Celebrating its grand reopening on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3, the new Buckhead will function as a quieter, pub-esque sister bar area attached to the more party and dance-focused RWB, which originally moved into the building in early 2016 as the country-themed Red, White and Blue before rebranding this summer.

"I felt it was a good time to bring back the Buckhead concept to the back room at RWB," said owner Jake Dehne, in a press release. "The northern woods cabin décor was there, and with adding tons of seating and TV upgrades, it will be an ideal spot to satisfy everyone in your group 

"Buckhead was open for a decade and tons of people walked through those doors. I hear, 'I miss Buckheads' almost weekly. Now people can stop by after a concert and relive their 20s – or for anyone 21 to 24, it’s an entirely new spot to hang out."

"Our DJ’s will still be playing your favorite, popular party anthems from all types of musical backgrounds, including throwback music to top 40 of today," explained general manager Jimmy Manke, in the release, "but in the Buckhead side, it won’t be as loud so that you can have a conversation and grab a seat too."

In addition to a cozier, quieter venue, the new space will feature craft beers and liquors currently unavailable at RWB as well as additional seating – including plans this spring for an outdoor Riverwalk patio area on the Buckhead side of the building. 

"We are so excited about the growth on Old World 3rd Street with the injection of energy and people with the new Bucks arena," Dehne added. "As part of our commitment to the Milwaukee's entertainment and hospitality industries, sometimes it is just time to bring back a great concept that encapsulates that energy and compliments RWB for those who don’t necessarily want to dance the entire time and frankly we just need to add more room for customers too."

After this weekend's reopening festivities – featuring an open bar from 8-9 p.m. both nights, $2 taps and mixers from 9-10 p.m. and music from DJ Quadi and DJ Wizz Kid – the new Buckhead Back Bar Saloon will be open Thursday through Saturday nights, with the normal RWB entrance serving as the way in. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.