English
Spanish
Sharon Ward, Safe Ride coordinator and treasurer of the Milwaukee County Tavern League, tended bar at The Last Drop, 1979 S. 15th St., until it closed a few months ago. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
I grew up on the city’s South Side, during a time when a corner bar or often times several, was no more than a block or two away. It was where we purchased penny candy as kids, and also where we’d run into our mailman or next-door neighbor. Needless to say, the tavern culture is deep in Milwaukee, especially on the South Side.
But, times have changed, and a stroll or drive anywhere in the 53204 or 53215 ZIP codes provides evidence that the old-time corner bars are a dying breed. I explored some of the reasons why in the first of my two-part special report on the decline of neighborhood taverns. The second part looks at crime and licensing issues that have also contributed to the decrease in corner bars.
Leave a Reply