In the midst of the World Cup, a downtown Milwaukee sports bar has reopened after a six-month closure and an ownership change.
SportClub, 750 N. Jefferson St., announced its reopening on social media Wednesday, June 24.
“The wait is officially over …… SportClub is back!” a SportClub Facebook post read. “Doors are open and lunch service starts today. Catch us every weekday beginning at 11:00 AM.”
The sports bar invited guests to watch World Cup matches.
“Let’s make up for lost time,” the post said.
JJ Kovacovich, one of SportClub’s new owners, said the business’ first day back was a bit like a soft opening, since the business didn’t share a public heads-up ahead of time. However, the bar still saw a good amount of traffic.
“It was great. We did more sales there than at some of our other stores on a random Wednesday,” said Kovacovich, who’s part of the Wild Planet Hospitality Group. “The walk-up business has been really good, with all the businesses in that area.”
He said the business looks forward to watch parties for its first U.S. World Cup game Thursday night, June 25.
SportClub abruptly closed in January, along with neighboring restaurant Barrel Burrito and bar Experts Only, which shared a kitchen at 782 N. Jefferson St. All three businesses were owned by Caravan Hospitality Group, led by CEO Mike Eitel, who has opened and operated other Milwaukee restaurants, including Nomad World Pub.
SportClub is now operating under new ownership. Its former manager, Henry Delcid Meza, is an owner of the bar, with partners Kovacovich and Drew Deuster from Wild Planet.
While Delcid Meza initially applied to open restaurants at both SportClub and its neighboring building, the former home of both Barrel Burrito and Experts Only, those plans were scrapped in March, and Delcid Meza instead elected to focus solely on SportClub.
In May, Deuster told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the owners plan to make few changes to the Cathedral Square sports bar, which had been open for close to eight years. He said there may be a few small tweaks to the menu.
In a statement, Deuster said SportClub “will be highlighting the remaining World Cup games with daily food and drink specials.”
“We are excited to finally be reopen and happy to expand Wild Planet Hospitality Group’s portfolio to the Cathedral Square neighborhood’s vibrant business community,” Deuster’s statement read.
Wild Planet also operates Nomad, McGillycuddy’s and Red Rocks Saloon.
SportClub opens at 11 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch. The kitchen is open Sunday through Thursday until 10 p.m. and Saturday until 11 p.m., and the bar stays open as late as guests are around, or until 2 a.m. weeknights or 2:30 a.m. weekend bar close, Deuster said.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Downtown Milwaukee sports bar reopens after six-month closure
Reporting by Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
