History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs (Milw)

 
First Street
aka 1st Street Tavern
Location: 157 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee WI

Opened:
Closed:

January 1982
summer 1984
Clientele:

Male/ female
Bar/ social

 

 
       
 

First Street Tavern was opened in December 1981 or January 1982. The first appearance of the bar in LGBT periodicals was in the January 1982 issue of Escape magazine: a cover photo of the owners, Larry Fleege and Leroy Stern, and inside the issue a photo of the Grand Opening party. We also have information from one Facebook contributor who once worked as a bartender there.

'First Street' largely catered to the levi/ leather crowd, for a time offering $1 off drinks for those in leather or softball uniforms. Bar patrons formed an SSBL softball team within two or three months of opening. They hosted at least one club night for the leather group Castaways with a beer bust and buffet, and at least one birthday party for a leather-scene patron.

Facebook contributor C.P. recalls: "I worked as a bartender at First Street for about 6 months in 1982. I was just 18 at the time. There was a gay couple that owned the bar and lived in back. The bar had a wood stove that had to be tended to keep the bar warm and had music from a juke box."

C.P. continues: "The bar had a small but loyal clientele, and also curiously attracted quite a few married "straight" couples. The wives would sit at the bar and have drinks while their husbands went off to find a trick, returning to pick them up at the end of the night. As I remember it, First Street was the first bar to uncover its windows, followed quickly by M&M Club who later claimed they were first."

In one of the first issues of 'In Step' magazine (v1-07 May 1984), there is a photo of the front of the building and the caption "1st Street Tavern is restoring their facade, also with open windows" (in reference to a nearly simultaneous undertaking by the M&M Club). But In Step v1-12 in October 1984 includes the mention "First Street (has) been gone for a while...", so perhaps the bar closed before the renovation was complete-- apparently the building was more attractive to another tenant.

Cover image
(Escape vol. 5-02, Jan. 1982)
 
Photo: Grand Openinng of First Street
(Escape vol. 5-02, Jan. 1982)
 
Advertisement
(Escape vol. 5-02, Jan. 1982)
 
Ad: Valentines Day special for wearing solid red
(Escape vol. 5-03, Feb. 1982)
 
First Street forms new team in SSBL softball
(Escape vol. 5-06, March 1982)
 
Advertisement
(Escape vol. 5-06, March 1982)
 
Photo: Castaways get-acquainted Beer Bust
(RAGG magazine v1-01, May 1983)
 
Advertisement
(RAGG magazine v1-01, May 1983)
 
Talk of the Town gossip column;
First Street wishes the new RAGG magazine good luck
(RAGG magazine v1-01, May 1983)
 
Photos from Phil's Birthday bash
View higher-contrast image of:
top photo / middle photo / bottom photo
(RAGG magazine vol. 1-15, Sept. 1983)
 
Advertisement
(March 1984)
 
Bar facade renovations, including opening up windows
(InStep vol. 1-07. May 1984)
 
 


Early advertisement
(Escape vol. 5-03, Feb. 1982)


Bar facade renovations underway
(InStep vol. 1-07, May 1984)


"First Street has been closed for a while"
(InStep vol 1-12. Oct. 1984)

Credits: web site concept, design and content by Don Schwamb.
Recollections from former bartender Chris Pokrop via Facebook group.
Last updated: February-2023.

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