Milwaukee bars and restaurants scramble to reopen for dine-in after more than two months of being closed for coronavirus

Bartenders wore masks and slid drinks and food orders under plexiglass shields Friday afternoon as Milwaukee took its first cautious steps to reopen.

It was hardly an all-out bash for businesses that were ordered to close more than two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Capacity was limited to 25% for in-person service, and patrons and staff seemed to be taking a cautious approach.

Some restaurants remained closed, saying they were surprised by the reopening decision Thursday by Mayor Tom Barrett. Getting supplies, staff and new procedures in place will take time, they said.

"Twenty-four hours is not enough time for us to safely reopen. It's got to be safe for our staff and customers," said Dan Jacobs, co-owner of Dandan and Fauntleroy restaurants in the Historic Third Ward. "Believe me, man, I can’t wait for people to come back."

Other places threw their doors open when the order was lifted at 2 p.m. Friday. They found customers happy to return, and curious how the new normal will look.

At Hooligan's, 2017 E. North Ave., Maggie Fowler and three friends took a table near the door for their first meal out of the house in 10 weeks.

So what it was 2:30 in the afternoon?

"We wanted to beat the rush," Fowler said. 

Fowler and friends sat at one of three tables against the wall. Two others were marked unavailable by stools arranged legs up on top of the tables and covered with clear shower curtains. Bartenders wore masks and gloves and Plexiglas hung from the bar with just enough space to slide a beer or a meal to someone sitting at one of six chairs, spaced accordingly for social distance.

Tim Mink ordered a Bud Light and waited at a table for a friend to join him. They had just been at the Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale for lunch and wanted to top it off with a drink at Hooligan's. And maybe a stop somewhere else. 

"I think it's great that everyone's getting back," Mink said. "We're jumping around to see what it's like."

Hooligan's owner Mark Buesing said he suspected the crowd would grow during the night, but that he understood that some people would be reluctant to venture back too quickly. He went for drinks in Brookfield last weekend and became uncomfortable when the crowd got too big.

At Good City Brewing, 2108 N. Farwell Ave., the dining room was empty mid-afternoon, but the six tables on the brewery's rooftop were spoken for. Patrons were greeted with a reminder that hand sanitizer was available, that they should wait to be seated and that there was no walk-up bar service.

Some restaurants were not ready Friday, but plan to reopen next week

For Broken Bat Brewing, 135 E. Pittsburgh, 23 hours was not enough time to prepare. The brewery, which hasn't been open to the public at all since it moved from its previous location in March, is hoping to open June 11, said co-owner Tim Pauly.

Lakefront Brewery hopes to open from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 12. The brewery is still working on a system, but seating will be by reservation only. Patrons who want food or just beer won't be able to walk up to the bar to order, instead they'll order from the wait staff, said Russ Klisch, Lakefront founder and president.

The chalet bar outside on the Riverwalk won't be open to the general public. Those tables will also be available by reservation only. And masks are required to enter the brewery and any time patrons step away from the table. 

Patrons are likely to see far more outdoor dining in the coming weeks.

Commercialstreets on the east side and other Milwaukee neighborhoods could close temporarily to create more outdoor dining space under a plan that won preliminary city approval Wednesday.

That would help restaurants to expand outdoor space and serve more customers while still social distancing.

Preparing to open with such short notice, however, was a challenge, said the owners of Steny's Tavern & Grill. They had to coordinate staffing, food and beverage, and new safety precautions in a single day.

“It was like ‘Holy cow. We’ve only got 24 hours to figure this out, but we’re going to figure it out and we’re going to open tomorrow,’” said Ryan Steny, who owns the bar with his father, Jerry.

At the Milwaukee Brat House, manager Tiffany Peltonen said it felt great to reconnect with customers.

 “It feels great to have the regulars back," she said. "They were the first ones at the bar.”

The operators of Camp Bar in the Historic Third Ward were ready when the reopen word came, said owner Paul Hackbarth. After opening his locations in Shorewood and Wauwatosa, Hackbarth learned he needed a greeter at the door who could help customers find a spot and maintain social distance.

“At first we thought we’d be very much patio-oriented, but everyone’s very much inside-outside,”Hackbarth said.

Pointing to the customers seated inside, he added, “As you can see, no one’s really afraid to come in."

Friday afternoon at Hooligans was a test case for Fowler and her friends.

"If things go well, maybe we'll stop at Fuentes and sit on the patio on the beautiful day," she said.