OT: Even worse than The Decision...

[mu_hilltopper]

http://onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bryantsclosing.html

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge quietly closes after 45 years

Published Oct. 17, 2007 at 12:45 p.m.

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge is closed.

A South Side institution located at 1579 S. 9th St., Bryant's served swanky specialty drinks for more than four decades amid a Sinatra-heavy soundtrack and a setting of mirrored walls, gold wallpaper and black velvet. The cocktail napkins were inscribed with a classic catch-phrase: "In excellent taste for those who care."

Owner Debbie Malmberg, who took over the establishment after the death of her father, Carl, in October 2005, confirmed the closing for OnMilwaukee.com on Wednesday.

"It's unfortunate that we did close," Malmberg said, adding that the building is for sale. "The bar had been there almost 45 years in that same spot and it was open years before my father took over. It's a sad thing. (Running a bar) just isn't for me."

Bryant's, which appealed to blue-collar people from the neighborhood, college students, bachelorette parties and retirees, served about 500 specialty drinks, including Hurricanes, Zombies, Singapore Slings, Blue Hawaiians and the popular Brain Buster (bumper sticker included).

There was no menu -- the waitstaff simply asked patrons to order by flavor.

Though it was popular with customers, the bar closed quietly without any publicity or fanfare. "We did not do that," Malmberg said. "It's kind of sad."

The bar will be missed, and remembered, by those who visited. Another neighborhood institution, Goldmann's department store also recently closed after more than a century on Mitchell Street.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

After today's recruiting adventures, I could certainly use a brainbuster...or three. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

That place burned down when I was at MU.

[muhoops1]

I had a Volcano spilled down my back there.

[MarquetteVol]

Bryant's is one of the best bars in the history of the world. That is devastating. My last trip there was after our Pitt victory on ESPN last year...it was a special, special place.

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

I had a Volcano spilled down my back there.

Did they offer to buy you a new (dry) shirt

[Murffieus]

At one time a very popular place-----but hadn't heard of it in years----didn't know it was still in business!

[KC_Warrior]

This is terrible news.  Bryant's was an institution, in every sense of the word.  I have so many great memories from that place.  I wish there was a way to save it.  It's just such a unique, fun place.  It will be missed.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Shame.

I sent the article to a friend today.  He met his future wife there about 8 years ago when we all went out for drinks at Bryant's.  That will be a dagger in their hearts.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

At one time a very popular place-----but hadn't heard of it in years----didn't know it was still in business!

murf, you probably dated some of the current waitresses that work there back in the day. 

[Schoolyard]

Just fired up some Chuck Mangione and wish I had some cheese popcorn.  That place was great.  Too many trips to recall all of them but my first probably stands out...Sophomore year my roommate and I and another guy took three girls there before Winter Flurry's Snow Ball.  We said dinner and drinks but we were running short on time so we came thru on the drinks part and hit McDonald's on 16th on the way back to campus for dinner.  Oddly, I'm not married to that girl.  But I did fall in love with Shirley that night.

[NavinRJohnson]

This is terrible news.  Bryant's was an institution, in every sense of the word.  I have so many great memories from that place.  I wish there was a way to save it.  It's just such a unique, fun place.  It will be missed.

Funny...I have very few memories from many, many visits. My only real memories are telling Shirley, "I'll have another Mai Tai." Everything else is pretty fuzzy.

[mu_hilltopper]

I'm a few months late .. but Bryant's is open again.

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bryantsisback.html

[Rollout-the-Barrel]

That's great! I could go for a black magic right about now!

[ATWizJr]

Pardon my ignorance, but, what is "The Decision" and the recruiting adventures being alluded to in this thread?

[mu_hilltopper]

It was when .. Shumpert turned us down and went to GTech.

[ATWizJr]

Thanks.  We are still agonizing over that one, I see.