The Wurst News, Underground Tavern Announces Closure
Short-lived Brady Street bar, previously known as WurstBar, is closing.
Underground Tavern, 1239 E. Brady St. Photo taken Feb. 18, 2026 by Sophie Bolich.
Underground Tavern is closing its doors on Brady Street, less than a year after the bar was rebranded from WurstBar.
The tavern, 1239 E. Brady St., announced Friday that its final day of business will be Oct. 8, ending a five-year run for the business under its two names.
“After 5 amazing years on Brady Street, Underground Tavern (formerly WurstBar) will be closing its doors on October 8th,” the business said in its announcement.
The bar is marking its final week with an “all-day happy hour,” offering $4 drinks through closing day, planned for Oct. 8.
“To everyone who came through our doors — whether you stopped in a handful of times, took one of our Brewers shuttles throughout the years, or became a regular who turned into a friend — and to all our incredible staff, thank you!!!” reads the announcement.
The closure comes only about eight months after Heard Hospitality transformed WurstBar into Underground Tavern, an effort to broaden the appeal of a concept that had opened in 2021 with a focus on German street food and beer.
WurstBar debuted after Scott Schaefer and partners Andrew Fronek and Darryl Towers purchased the property and undertook a substantial renovation. The building, built in 2010, had previously housed Green Fields, a smoke shop and bohemian store.
The WurstBar concept was intended to bring a taste of Berlin to Brady Street, serving sausages, German beer and other German-inspired offerings. But by early 2026, operators said the name had become limiting as the menu and business evolved.
“When people heard the name WurstBar, their minds — understandably — went right to a German bar,” Ryan Cooke, director of operations for ownership group Heard Hospitality, told Urban Milwaukee in February. “As we started to get away from that, realizing it was too niche, it led to a point of confusion.”
The business was relaunched in February as Underground Tavern, with new signage, updated decor and a menu geared toward a more traditional Milwaukee dive-bar identity. The offerings included smoked wings, cheese curds, pretzel bites, stuffed butter burgers and a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
Cooke said at the time that the change was intended as an evolution of WurstBar rather than an entirely new business.
“Really, what we’re doing is taking what worked from WurstBar and giving it a new name to help customers really identify with what we’re trying to do,” he said.
The WurstBar name, however, isn’t disappearing entirely. Heard Hospitality has continued to operate WurstBar at Wisconsin State Fair, where the business has repeatedly competed in the fair’s annual Sporkies food competition.
“We hope to see you at WurstBar State Fair next summer,” the closing announcement says.
The Brady Street property is owned by WurstBar MKE LLC, an affiliate of Schaefer and Heard Hospitality.
The closure also comes as Schaefer and Heard Hospitality are completing an acquisition nearby. The group is in the process of purchasing The Garage and Hi Hat Lounge, 1701 N. Arlington Pl., located kitty-corner from Underground Tavern.
Heard Hospitality also operates Jack’s American Pub, Milwaukee Brat House in Milwaukee and Shorewood and Wanaki Golf Course in Menomonee Falls.
Underground Tavern’s license is due to expire on Oct. 11, though an annual renewal is pending.
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