Seaway Inn

Bar Food

744 N Jefferson
Milwaukee, WI 53202

State Region

Southeast WI

Neighborhood

Easttown

Year Opened: 1959
Year Closed: 1972

Exact Date Opened: Unknown
Exact Date Closed: Unknown

Clientele Primarily Identified As

Gay

The Seaway Inn, a cozy gay bar and restaurant, was located in a historic stone cottage. Built in 1938 as Ambrosia House (a vegetarian restaurant,) the property was bought by Otto Schuller and reopened as a high-class gay bar and grill. The Seaway was known for its welcoming atmosphere, roaring fireplace, "Christmas in July" parties, Irish Coffees, George the mynah bird, and a crowd even older than This Is It. The iconic building was targeted for demolition in 1969 and closed in 1972. Like many other displaced gay bars, it relocated to the emerging gay village in Walker's Point.

For a while, two very different Seaway Inns operated in Milwaukee. Imagine the hijinks that ensued when patrons accidentally visited the other Seaway Inn of the 1960s (525 S. Water St.) that served as the official headquarters for the Outlaws motorcycle club. That bar, deemed 'filthy' and 'obscene' by City of Milwaukee officials, lost its license in 1966, putting an end to any confusion.