As everyone knows, Milwaukee has no shortage of bars. So when I found myself here for a car show, I just had to do some “research.” Map in hand I navigated south to West Lincoln Avenue and checked in on a recommendation for our forthcoming book.
The suggested bar, the Holler House, did not disappoint. Business is slow in the summer so I had the bartender all to myself. No, it wasn’t some disinterested employee. I had the owner to myself for half an hour and received a guided tour of the place. The owner Marcy Skowronski has been working there for over 50 years now and as if that wasn’t enough, her late husband’s family has owned the tavern for 100 years. It opened in 1908 as Skowronski’s.
The bar is a real classic. Well appointed with a beautiful back bar and an original tin ceiling, the Holler House has a lot to offer. If you’re interested, there are a variety of garments hanging in a corner you can try on for the night. There are a smattering of signed bras draped from lights and hooks. Marcy shared that they cleaned and had to take down all of the frayed ones a few years ago. Apparently they boxed them all away somewhere.
In addition to the aforementioned highlights, there are two bowling lanes downstairs. The wooden lanes are original and the tavern still uses pin boys who place the pins back in the set and roll the balls back to the bowlers. Milwaukee is a city with a strong bowling history and the Holler House surely represents this with longevity and style. In fact, the Holler House is said to be the oldest bowling alley in the United States. This bar is quintessential Milwaukee and well worth the stop if you’re on Milwaukee’s south side. The Holler House is at 2042 West Lincoln Avenue, Milwaukee.
Hey, do you know of a classic Wisconsin bar? We want to hear from you! In fact, we need to hear from you because there’s no way we could find all of the best taverns on our own. Tell us you favorite and why it matters.
