By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Sep 06, 2018 at 12:56 PM Photography: Royal Brevvaxling

Last July, The Metal Grill in Cudahy went cold, but there's new activity heating up at the former beloved rock bar. 

As first reported by Milwaukee Record, Milwaukee band Direct Hit! frontman Nick Woods along with a group of investors have begun work on a DIY-oriented music, arts and entertainment venue, as well as a mini-arcade, in the space, located at 5036 S. Packard Ave. While the new venue doesn't have a name yet, Woods and company aim to open by the end of the year. 

The tavern will reportedly serve a cocktail menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, a beer list featuring domestic and craft brews, and bar food modeled after popular frozen party snacks. (Upscaled Bagel Bites and Pizza Rolls, here we come?)

But the star of the show at the new venue is the entertainment. In addition to a selection of video games, the new space aims to serve as a DIY-oriented arts and entertainment hotspot across all sorts of mediums.

Talking to the Shepherd Express, Woods noted that he wants the bar as "not just a place for live music, but a place that people who want to premiere their films can show them on a big stage with really good sound. We want to do comedy. We want to host classes." He also told the weekly that most events at the new space will be open to all ages, helping continue to fill a once-glaring vacancy in Milwaukee's live music scene.

Stay tuned for more updates on the new venue going into the former Metal Grill. 

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.