The Tap Yard MKE Opening Soon

The pandemic push for outdoor beer gardens is moving to East Town with the planned opening of The Tap Yard.

The bar will be located in a portion of the surface parking lot at 1301 N. Edison St. overlooking the Milwaukee River. Owner Nick Marking hopes that this unique location a few blocks from Fiserv Forum will attract a variety of customers. 

“With the events we throw and the beer we pour we think that we’ll get a following, being on the river,” said Marking in an interview.

The beers, including 36 drafts of craft brews alongside a variety of wines and hard seltzers, are selected by Marking. He used his expertise in the craft beer industry as the former owner of The Brass Tap in Greenfield and current owner of two other The Tap Yard locations in Waukesha and Glendale (Bayshore mall).

“We keep the selection very interesting and always top of mind,” Marking said. “When people are looking to drink a good beer we know we’re one of the top choices.”

The Milwaukee location is directly north of the Water Street bar district.

Restaurant shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted an increase in outdoor dining. Marking said that was part of the inspiration for opening outdoor venues.

“We wanted to provide a safe, outdoor space for people to enjoy craft beer in an environment that you feel comfortable in and with plenty of social distancing,” he said. 

Marking hopes to open The Tap Yard sometime next week and run until October 1, pending final approval from the city.

Once open, The Tap Yard will operate Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Marking decided to close before most downtown bars because of the outdoor setting.

The 1.05-acre parking lot Marking is leasing approximately a quarter of is owned by the Marcus Corp. It’s part of a larger site the company previously announced plans to develop a new corporate headquarters and movie theater on. That project has not advanced other than a pocket park being constructed atop a parcel, 1301 N. Water St., the company previously acquired from Milwaukee County.

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