Ramie's, named after owner Ramie Hochman, began in 1953 as the Ramie's Joint newsstand and gag gift shop on 8th and Wisconsin. During the Sexual Revolution, the store shifted to an adult format. While gay guides praised Ramie's for a wide selection of gay materials, the store was often cited for "deviant materials," and customers were frequently harassed by police. In 1973, Ramie's successfully challenged State of Wisconsin obscenity charges. After Hochman retired in 1972, the store became "New Ramie's" and relocated to the Towne Hotel, then the heart of Milwaukee's red light district. Ramie's closed in 1976.