Throwback photos: 10 UW-Madison student bars you'll never drink at again
Here's a look back at some of the local bars that used to be packed by legions of UW-Madison students. While these local watering holes have since closed down, they certainly made their mark.
The Pub
The Pub, 552 State St., closed in 2010 after nearly 70 years in business. It was replaced by Whiskey Jack’s. The Pub is pictured here in 2004.
602 Club
The 602 Club operated from 1951 to 1994 on University Avenue at Frances Street. Known for its eclectic customer base, the 602 drew a crowd on closing day, pictured here.
Black Bear Lounge
The exterior of the Black Bear Lounge, 319 N. Frances St., is shown in 1987. The bar, built in 1974, was popular but controversial for having trouble with law enforcement authorities. Owner Muriel Gervasi closed it in 1995. Eventually, the site came to house Dotty Dumplings Dowry.
Regent Street Retreat
Pat McCurdy performs before a live audience at the Regent Street Retreat on April 22, 2008. The nightclub, 1212 Regent St., was sold in 2013 after operating for many years and turned into The Red Zone.
Stillwaters
Stillwaters, in business for nearly 30 years, closed in 2005. It was located at 250 State St., on the corner of State and East Johnson streets. It was a popular late-night haunt, but its restaurant also had a solid Downtown lunch crowd.
Wagon Wheel
The Wagon Wheel, a basement bar of the Turner Hall at 21 S. Butler St., was destroyed by fire March 7, 1990. A bartender was later convicted of arson.
Joe Hart's
Joe Hart's operated at 704 University Ave. Over the years, the site also housed the Store and Brothers Bar & Grill.Â
Flamingo Bar
The Flamingo Bar, 636 State St., was also known as the Grotto, a restaurant-bar run by Al and Mary Schiro. Patrons walked down a set of steps to the basement bar. Drinks were garnished with homemade olives. The Schiros ran the Grotto from 1949 to 1980, when it was then sold and operated as the Flamingo. The photo here was taken of the exterior in 1980. The space later became the City Bar.
Bob & Gene's Tavern
Bob & Gene’s Tavern operated in the 600 block of University Avenue for many years, before being torn down in 1978. It became a parking lot and later the site of UW-Madison's Fluno Center for Executive Education. After the building was torn down, the bar's owners at the time, Leo and Jan Castle, ended up running the Village Bar on Mineral Point Road until 1999.
Varsity Bar
The Varsity Bar on State Street was also fondly called the "Var Bar" by its patrons. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson worked there while a student. He can be seen in this photo standing in the back on the left.
The researcher merged public health data with anonymized cellphone tracking data in the 19 census tracts that fall within or near UW-Madison's campus.
