The Colby Abbot Building is a six-story, mixed-use building in downtown Milwaukee.
The first floor is currently configured to have three retail stalls, a tavern space, and a restaurant space. The upper five floors all contain office space. The building was designed by prolific Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix.
The building suffered a three-alarm fire in June 2020. Repair work took more than a year.
The building has seen a number of changes since it was originally built. The front entrance and lobby of the building were originally on Mason St., today the location of a tavern space. Even more of a drastic change, the building was originally built with five floors, the sixth added as an addition early in its history. The building was originally known as the Colby & Abbot Building, with the name on display in a sign over the original entrance to the building.
The first floor of the building went under an extensive renovation in 2010 that replaced the mid-century masonry facade with glass panes that expose the arches that were once a key part of the first-floors design. The redesign also created two street-facing retail stalls, 755 N. Milwaukee St. and 757 N. Milwaukee St.
The building has been in the Kahn family since 1926 when it was purchased by Gustave E. Kahn and two partners.
The building was originally built as the headquarters of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Corporation. The building’s name is derived from the company’s leadership, President and Treasurer Charles Colby and Vice President and Secretary Edwin Hale Abbot. The central Wisconsin cities of Colby and Abbotsford are likewise named after the railroad, with Colby being named by Charles’ Gardner L. Colby after his son, and Abbotsford being named after Abbot.
In 2020, Shepard Fairey painted a voting rights mural on the building’s northern facade.
First Floor Tenant History
- Karl Ratzch’s (1928 – 2017) – 320 E. Mason St.
- Euro Bar (? – 2008) – 326 E. Mason St.
- Vanity Ultra Lounge (2008 – 2009) – 324 E. Mason St.
- Velvet Hour (January 2010 – 2010) – 324 E. Mason St.
- Warfrique (November 2010 – October 2012) – 757 N. Milwaukee St.
- Tempt (2010 – 2011) – 324 E. Mason St.
- Sublime Bar & Lounge (2011 – 2012) – 324 E. Mason St.
- 42 Lounge (2013 – 2018) – 326 E. Mason St.
- XO Cocktail Parlor (2019 – 2020) – 326 E. Mason St.
- Digital Edge Copy & Print Center (2012 – 2019) – 330 E. Mason St.
- Urban Milwaukee: The Store (April 2012 – Present) – 755 N. Milwaukee St.
List is incomplete
Photos
Activity
| ID | Date | Type | Description |
| HVAC-GEN-19-03206 | 2019/10/17 | Permit | HVAC General Permit |
| NOCC-19-01526 | 2019/09/09 | Permit | |
| PWEU-19-02075 | 2019/08/13 | Permit | ROW Excavation Utility |
| PWEC-19-01335 | 2019/06/18 | Permit | ROW Excavation City Contract |
| ELEC-19-00914 | 2019/02/07 | Permit | Electrical Permit |
| PLB-19-00478 | 2019/02/05 | Permit | Building Plumbing Permit |
| ELEC-19-00213 | 2019/01/10 | Permit | Electrical Permit |
| ELEC-18-09119 | 2018/12/28 | Permit | Electrical Permit |
| PLB-18-05672 | 2018/12/01 | Permit | Building Plumbing Permit |
| PWOP-18-00853 | 2018/06/14 | Permit | ROW Occupancy Permit. |
| PWEC-18-01589 | 2018/06/05 | Permit | ROW Excavation City Contract. |
| PWEN-18-00096 | 2018/03/30 | Permit | ROW Excavation Non-Utility. |
| PWOP-18-00033 | 2018/01/14 | Permit | ROW Occupancy Permit. |
| PWEC-17-02241 | 2017/08/25 | Permit | ROW Excavation City Contract. |
| PWEC-17-02078 | 2017/08/09 | Permit | ROW Excavation City Contract. |
| PWEC-17-01728 | 2017/07/07 | Permit | ROW Excavation City Contract. |
| PWOP-17-00764 | 2017/06/09 | Permit | ROW Occupancy Permit. |
| ID | Date | Description | Type |
Content referencing Colby Abbot Building
Milwaukee Downtown introduces new Holiday Lights Festival attraction: Ornament Trail
15 larger-than-life, hand-painted ornaments will be displayed along Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street.
Nov 1st, 2023 by Milwaukee Downtown, BID 21
Garbage Truck Crashes Into Streetcar
The Hop hops its tracks in collision that sent one person to hospital. How did the crash happen?
Mar 27th, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene
Join Urban Milwaukee For A Cool Party
See the new courtyard deck at Colby Abbot Building while mingling with other members.
Jul 18th, 2022 by Urban Milwaukee
City Attorney Tearman Spencer Is Running For Mayor
10th candidate in the race is a polarizing one.
Dec 30th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Podcast Production Company Opens Downtown Studio, Office
Podcamp Media leases space at top of Colby Abbot Building.
Oct 21st, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Podcast Production Agency “Podcamp Media” Opens New Studio in Downtown Milwaukee
Studio Build-Out Is Supported by a WEDC Bounceback Grant and Applauded by State and Local Economic Development Leaders
Oct 21st, 2021 by Podcamp Media
Urban Milwaukee Burned, Its Members Made It Rise
Fire could have been the end; instead it was a launchpad. Help us build what's next.
Jun 7th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Downtown’s New Voting Rights Mural
Shepard Fairey completes 7,400-square-foot mural on Colby Abbot Building.
Oct 15th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Shepard Fairey Mural Going Up Downtown
Artist known for Obama 'Hope' image will create voting rights mural on downtown building.
Oct 7th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
New Downtown Cocktail Lounge Opening
XO Cocktail Lounge on E. Mason St. will also feature small plates dining and live music.
Jun 30th, 2018 by Jennifer Rick
My Office, East Town’s Last Dive Bar
The 136-year-old building, the clientele, the atmosphere are all unique.
Dec 19th, 2016 by Michael Horne
Gallery Night at Urban Milwaukee Store
New exhibit features artistic melding of Milwaukee's past and future
Oct 20th, 2016 by Jeramey Jannene
City Birthday Party All About Dining
Politicians and candidate hopefuls mix with winners of dining awards.
Feb 1st, 2016 by Michael Horne
New NM Apartment Tower Moves Forward
Its less-discussed project, a 33-story residential and parking tower, is quietly continuing.
Jan 22nd, 2016 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee’s Biggest Building Rises
Northwestern Mutual's 32-floor building will be the state's biggest and its basic structure has been mostly framed out.
Jul 3rd, 2015 by Jeramey Jannene
Kiva Comes to Town
Global micro-loan program for small businesses expands to Milwaukee, and city fund will match its loans.
Feb 27th, 2015 by Andrew McCann
From The Railway Exchange Building
Built in 1901, the classic, 12-story building is well-situated for great views of Downtown and the old and new city.
Nov 6th, 2014 by Brian Jacobson
Conference Touts Historic Preservation
Conference at We Energies offers experts touting the huge environmental payoff for historic reuse of buildings.
Oct 31st, 2014 by Michael Horne
Keaira Monique
"I’d like to see Downtown with unique boutiques and shops like Chicago. We have so much potential for a fashion district."
Jan 20th, 2014 by Newaukee
OnMilwaukee.com Moves Downtown
Plus: problems for a new hotel and say goodbye to two bars.
Nov 16th, 2012 by Urban Milwaukee
Sydney HiH Gallery Night
A Gallery Night send off for the epicenter of Milwaukee's counter-culture movement.
Oct 17th, 2012 by Jeramey JanneneCRE Guide: Take 5 – Patti Keating Kahn
Jun 27th, 2012 - The Milwaukee Business Journal - Sean Ryan
The Impending New Milwaukee Delegation, Free Brewers Tickets for Aldermen, 24 to 1, and More
Welcome to the ninth installment of Eyes on Milwaukee. This week I examine the coming changes to the Milwaukee Delegation, how another big city gets quite the luxury perk, the difference between the charter meetings of the City and County, Milwaukee's new City Clerk, and more.
Apr 19th, 2012 by Jeramey Jannene
Colby Abbot Pop-up Stores are Open for Business
Although, the renovation of the first floor of Colby Abbot, located at 759 N. Milwaukee St., building is taking a little longer than expected, the change is a welcome improvement to Milwaukee St.
Nov 21st, 2010 by Dave Reid
Friday Photos Friday, 19. November 2010
Construction of Gold’s Gym Gold’s Gym on N. Water Street 735 N Water Street and Gold’s Gym Colby Abbot Construction Gold’s Gym Construction
Nov 19th, 2010 by Friday Photos
Demolish Part of Downtown Milwaukee? No.
Recently, it was reported that Robert and Michael Levine are once again considering the demolition of historic buildings along Wisconsin Ave. and Broadway, with the hope of landing a hotel development.
Oct 16th, 2010 by Dave Reid
Historic Colby-Abbot Building Renovation is Underway
Construction has begun on the long anticipated renovation of the 134-year old, 6-story, Colby-Abbot Building, located at 759 N. Milwaukee St.
Oct 3rd, 2010 by Dave Reid
Friday Photos Friday, 16. April 2010
Milwaukee Street Hotel Metro Colby Abbot building Manpower Water on Prospect
Apr 16th, 2010 by Friday PhotosBuilding data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on April 5, 2024
See something wrong? Want to report an issue? Contact us.
