Milwaukee Businesses Closing During RNC

Pabst Theater. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

When Milwaukee was selected to host the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC), elected officials and local entrepreneurs cheered the news as a much-needed boon for small businesses and the city’s economy.

Now, with the four-day convention less than two weeks away, a number of establishments have announced plans to close for the duration of the event.

That includes The Mothership, which announced in March that it would shut down for the week of the RNC.

“I’m not trying to get involved with or actively take money or rent the space out to that tomfoolery,” owner Ricky Ramirez noted within a longer social media post — typical of the irreverent Bay View bar, 2301 S. Logan Ave.

The decision was shared widely and swiftly generated a flurry of both negative and positive responses, even garnering write-ups from national publications including Eater and Rolling Stone.

Several additional bars, restaurants and venues, as well as recurring events, will be closed or canceled during the RNC, which takes place Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18.

AJ Bombers

AJ Bombers, known for its flying peanuts and burgers, has announced plans to close between Monday, July 15 and Thursday, July 18. The Benson’s Restaurant Group establishment, 1247 N. Water St., is located less than two blocks east of the “soft zone” security perimeter.

Some staff members may be relocated for the week to sister establishment The New Fashioned, which is located inside the “hard zone” security perimeter directly across from Fiserv Forum.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave., will remain closed July 15 through 18. The museum’s Community Access Day, typically scheduled for the third Thursday of each month, will be rescheduled to July 25.

Central Standard Crafthouse and Kitchen

Central Standard Crafthouse and Kitchen will be closed to the public — but certainly not empty — for the duration of the convention.

The three-level bar and restaurant, 320 E. Clybourn St., is fully booked Monday through Thursday during convention week, according to a story by Jordyn Noennig.

Discourse Downtown

Discourse‘s downtown cafe, 1020 N. Broadway, is closed July 15 through 18 to prioritize staff’s “health and safety,” the business announced in a July 15 social media post.

A sister location at Radio Milwaukee, 158 S. Barclay St., will remain open daily from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Discovery World

Discovery World, an interactive science museum at 500 N. Harbor Dr., will be closed July 15 through 18, according to its website.

The venue is scheduled to host the Conservative Climate Foundation and American Conservative Coalition for an event at an unknown date during the convention.

Jazz in the Park

Due to both the upcoming holiday and RNC preparations, Jazz in the Park will take place just once in July. The event, typically held on Thursday evenings at Cathedral Square Park, is skipping over July 4, 11 and 18. It’s set to return on July 25.

Cathedral Square Market, a weekly farmers market held at the park, will also go on hiatus during the convention. The event will return on Sunday, July 21.

Lakefront Brewery

The Washington State Delegation has tapped Lakefront Brewery for lunch and a brewery tour during convention week. As a result, the Riverwest brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., will be closed to the public July 16 through 18.

MKE River Roundup Concert Series

The weekly concert series is taking a “bye week” on July 17 to avoid crossover with the RNC. The event, which invites bands aboard the floating “Funktoon” to perform a set on the river, will resume its weekly installments on July 24.

Milwaukee Boat Line

Vista King and Voyager, two boats operated by Milwaukee Boat Line, will remain docked for the duration of the RNC, owner Jake Chianelli told WISN.

The Secret Service plans to close portions of the Milwaukee River during the convention, making it impossible for watercraft to travel along the waterway.

Milwaukee Public Museum

The Milwaukee Public Museum will be closed July 15 through 18, according to its website. The museum, 800 W. Wells St., is located just inside the security footprint for the convention.

MPM plans to operate with extended hours in the days immediately before and after the RNC.

Pabst Theater Group Venues

Gary Witt, executive director of the Pabst Theater Group (PTG), has been outspoken about his disappointment over the “underwhelming” amount of venue bookings brought about by the RNC.

Witt has publicly stated that the Pabst Theater, The Riverside Theater, Vivarium and The Fitzgerald will likely remain unused during the convention, The Recombobulation Area reports. There are no shows scheduled between July 15 and 19.

Turner Hall, a PTG venue located just steps away from the heart of the convention at Fiserv Forum, is booked for the duration of the convention by CNN, Urban Milwaukee previously reported. The building, 1040 N. Phillips Ave., is located inside the convention’s hard security perimeter.

Pilot Project Brewing

Located just a few blocks west of the convention site, Pilot Project is opting to close its doors from July 15 through 18. The brewery and taproom, 1128 N. 9th St., plans to reopen on Friday, July 19 at 11 a.m.

Red, White and Blue (RWB)

Red, White and Blue, a popular downtown nightclub, is booked for all four days of the convention, owner Jake Dehne told Urban Milwaukee.

The bar at 1044 N. Martin Luther King Jr Dr. will open to the public for a kickoff party on Monday night at 9 p.m., but will only admit private guests for the remainder of the event.

Dehne, who operates a number of establishments in the downtown area, said he’s considering opening The Lucky Clover, an Irish bar, for lunch and dinner service on Monday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 17.

Future updates will be available online.

River Center Market

Three restaurants located within the River Center Market, 111 E. Kilbourn Ave., will be closed July 15 through 19. The counter-service concepts, including Toro Tacos & Bowls, On Rye and Knockbox, cater mostly to downtown office workers, many of whom plan to work from home during the RNC.

Vault, also located in the Associated Bank River Center building, will maintain its regular hours throughout the week.

The Lounge at Ardent

Ardent‘s casual counterpart, The Lounge, will remain closed for the duration of the RNC. The bar and restaurant, 1751 N. Farwell Ave., is typically closed Wednesday and Thursday, but will also close Monday and Tuesday during the convention.

Regular hours are set to commence on Friday, July 19.

Whitetail MKE

As of July 1, Whitetail is closed to the public for a remodel, the bar shared in a recent social media post. In the meantime, “the party will continue across the street” at LP; Edward DeShazer and Mike Edler co-own both businesses.

Although the business, 111o N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., is closed to the public, it will open for private events throughout convention week, DeShazer told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This article was updated July 15.