The Grand Avenue Pub opened in 1982, hoping to create a "Cheers" bar and grill atmosphere on a revitalized West Wisconsin Avenue. For many years, the Pub was extremely popular due to its location near the Club Baths. The bar's owners, Paul Gumsey and Scott O'Meara, also founded GayFest in 1983, at a time when Milwaukee had no annual pride celebration. Although GayFest only lasted three years, its legacy lived on, inspiring the creation of MAP Fest in 1986 and PrideFest Milwaukee in 1988.