Strip Club Near Airport Closes
After 42 years in business the Airport Lounge celebrated its final night with a party.
The Airport Lounge, 5881 S. Howell Ave. photo by Jeramey Jannene.
The Airport Lounge is headed for the hangar.
The strip club at 5881 S. Howell Ave. closed permanently over the weekend after more than four decades in business, marking the occasion with a “final approach”-themed party complete with “sexy ladies, fun vibes, and flowin’ drinks,” according to a Facebook post.
Owners George and Nikolaos Tsitos later shared a brief farewell message on social media, thanking customers for an “incredible” run on the far South Side. “We are filled with nothing but gratitude for 40+ years of business,” they wrote.
The closure ends one of Milwaukee’s longest-running adult entertainment venues and raises questions about the future of the tavern building that has housed Airport Lounge since 1984.
George and Monika Tsitos remain in control of the property, which was placed in a living trust in 2002, according to city assessment records. The 4.2-acre parcel also includes Economy Airport Parking & Shuttle, another Tsitos family business that closed earlier this month.
Coldwell Banker listed the property for sale in October as a “unique redevelopment opportunity” near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, immediately north of the site. It is currently priced at $1.85 million and includes a 7,081-square-foot tavern building, 520 parking spaces and a fenced yard, according to the online listing.
Landmark 1850 Inn, recognized as Milwaukee’s oldest tavern, neighbors the lounge to the south. The business reopened under new ownership in 2024.
George and Nikolaos Tsitos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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