The recent closing of Danny’s Pub (and near-closing of Churchkey Bar & Grill) are stinging reminders that even the most beloved local bars, taverns and clubs can’t always last forever. We dug into the archives and compiled a list of some of the most iconic establishments that Madison has lost in the past 50 years.
Madhatter
Madhatter occupied 328 W. Gorham St. for 11 years until 2017, when it was replaced by Danny’s Pub. Prior to that, it spent two decades on University Square (which was demolished in 2006 to make way for the new campus mall). At the time of its closure, the popular student bar had spent 30 cumulative years in Madison.
The Silver Dollar Tavern
This West Mifflin Street dive bar opened in 1933, just after Prohibition, and was passed down through its family of owners for four generations. When it closed in February 2024 after Hovde Properties purchased the building, The Silver Dollar had the city’s oldest liquor license.
Blue Velvet Lounge
For two decades, Blue Velvet was known for its colossal martini menu, featuring the likes of the Snickertini and the Bloody Marytini, and popular Latin Nights. It closed shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pub
This appropriately named pub could be found at 552 State St. for 70 years until it closed in 2010, when Whiskey Jack’s Saloon took its place.
Bull Feathers
Not to be confused with Bullwinkle’s Pub, which succeeded Headliners on University Avenue, Bull Feathers was a popular downtown dance club housed in the Henry Street unit where Sotto Night Club is now. The bar later rebranded to Ram Head Rathskeller but closed permanently around 2010.
Cafe Montmartre
Named for the eclectic Montmartre neighborhood of Paris that drew artists and dreamers, this wine bar and music club entertained patrons for 17 years. But the 2008 recession hit bars hard, and sadly, Madison bid Cafe Montmartre “adieu” in 2009.
O’Cayz Corral
A haven for underground grunge, punk and rock music culture, this East Wilson Street bar hosted performances by bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, L7 and The White Stripes — but it’s probably most well-known for being the venue for a Nirvana performance (to a 30-person crowd) on the band’s first U.S. tour on July 7, 1989. O’Cayz Corral burned down on Jan. 1, 2001, and its owner opened High Noon Saloon in 2004.
The Flamingo Bar
With a name that references the iconic plastic birds that fill Bascom Hill every year, The Flamingo Bar inhabited the State Street basement unit (now home to City Bar) from 1982 to 1998.
Pinckney Street Hide-away
On top of being a regular service bar, Pinckney Street Hide-away, which closed its doors in 1996, served up comforting Midwestern fare, from soups and sandwiches to a variety of pies.
Headliners
A University Avenue stalwart in the 1980s, Headliners lived up to its name, hosting popular music acts like U2, John Mellencamp, R.E.M. and The Red Hot Chili Peppers until its closure in the 1990s. Now, the EDM club Liquid occupies the building.
The Hotel Washington: Rod’s, Club de Wash, The Barber’s Closet and The New Bar
Before a fire laid waste to the Hotel Washington in 1996, it was a business and cultural hub for Madison’s LGBTQ community. Lost in the fire were Rod’s, a gay bar; Club de Wash, a club and live music venue; The Barber’s Closet, a speakeasy with an entrance hidden in — you guessed it — a barber shop; and The New Bar, a dance club for teenagers.
Bunky’s Nightclub
In the 1970s and 1980s, the corner of Park and Regent Streets was abuzz thanks to Bunky’s, one of Madison’s most esteemed nightclubs. For a time, Bunky’s basement was home to Club Underground, where Nirvana gave their second and final Madison performance in 1990.
The 602 Club
The 602 Club’s name comes from its address of 602 University Ave., where campus hotspot Wando’s now sits. Though not explicitly a gay bar, the 602 Club provided a welcoming atmosphere for Madison’s gay community in the 1950s and 60s. It closed in 1994.
Amber Grid
An unassuming University Avenue bar, the Amber Grid was known to attract UW-Madison students living in the Lakeshore dorms until the university bought out the building for expansion in 1987.
Bob & Gene’s
In 1978, this tavern, which served generously-poured drinks and bar food, was the last structure on its block to be razed in favor of a new parking lot…