Wisconsin's longest-running LGBTQ+ bar closes doors permanently, cites COVID & other factors as reasons
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – The longest-running LGBTQ+ in Wisconsin announced that it has closed its doors permanently.
This Is It! posted on its Facebook page that on the eve of its 57th anniversary, it has closed its doors permanently. The post mentioned the COVID crisis and an eight-month closure of a street and sidewalk.
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The business thanked staff, performers and friends over the years. It was mentioned that the business did everything it could to keep the doors open.
The post also mentioned the founders of the bar.
Below is the full post:
This summer would have been the 57th anniversary of This is It!. Unfortunately, that celebration will not come to pass. As of today, we have closed our doors permanently. The COVID crisis and the years following 2020, coupled with the 8 month closure of our street and sidewalk last year, put the business in a position that we could not ultimately overcome.
We would like to thank all the staff, performers, and friends who made the magic of This is It! happen over the years. We also thank everyone in the community for the many years of loyal patronage. This is It! has been so much more than a nightlife spot for the queer community. It has been a gathering place, a safe place, a second home, and the memories made at the bar will stay in our hearts forever. We want you to know that we did everything we could to keep our doors open for you.
One last time, we honor our founders June and Joseph Brehm. While they are no longer with us, they would have been fighting the last few years along side us. Their memory and legacy lives on in our hearts too.
It's with much sadness, but with so much love, we bid all of you farewell. Take care of each other, and please continue to support local and queer-owned businesses.
This Is It! on Facebook
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No additional information was provided.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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"One of my former bullies is a stand-up comedian/actor. He apologized, invited me to one of his shows, and said I could heckle him if I wanted to." "I was viciously bullied by multiple people through my childhood and teens for all my 'weird traits,' which eventually got diagnosed as autism. Also, I was really tall and, therefore, an easy target. One of my bullies actually became a social worker. I don't know if she's changed, and I don't care. This woman used classic abuser tactics on me, isolating me from my family and friends, telling me nobody would care about me like she did, and taking me on her dates so I could see 'what it looked like to be desired.' She was evil. Now she's a social worker?" "My bully won the lottery and retired early. I'm not kidding. Like most lottery winners, I hope his life was a mess after that. Sorry, not sorry." "I'm on good speaking terms now with one of mine now. She was also the only one at my 10-year reunion who gave condolences for my dad's passing. 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A family needed a home, and I had one I didn't use." "She was a friend who turned into a bully. After graduating from high school, we went our separate ways, and I haven't reconnected even though she's in the area and runs into members of my family and friends occasionally. I think she's had a chance to mature since then, as she went to college and was exposed to more than just the strict family she grew up with. She does children's book illustrations now and recently got married. I know that at least some of the bullying was in response to stress at home, especially because her mom was going through some pretty serious medical stuff at the time. I hope she's doing well, but I won't contact her. The things she did and said affected me for a long time, and I still have trouble trusting friends to be friends." "One of my worst ones is now a judge in Texas. I shudder to think about it." laws "I was bullied a lot. I was very tall, skinny, and awkward. Not a cool look in the early '80s. 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Her Facebook is still super rude, so I guess she hasn't changed." "I had one 'friend' bully me for my sexuality. She is now a mental health nurse." "We wound up becoming friends online. She had dropped out of school and gotten her GED. She's raising a child with her partner and has felt genuine remorse for middle school." "I was in high school in California, but moved to the Midwest for college, grad school, and stayed for work. Year after year, I would get reunion announcements from a bully girl who thought she was still in the in crowd. I finally emailed her that she should take me off the mailing list since I had no interest in reliving high school. Petty, but it felt good. She had married the football captain and never grew up." "He's a real estate agent in our area. I looked at his reviews, and they're all written by his friends from high school." "My bully and I ran into each other at an AA meeting that set all animosity aside. We are very close now." 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Buena Vista Social ClubDead OutlawDeath Becomes HerFloyd CollinsGypsy: A Musical FableMaybe Happy EndingOperation Mincemeat: A New MusicalPirates! The Penzance MusicalSunset BoulevardJust in TimeReal Women Have CurvesThe original cast of HamiltonBroadway Inspirational Voices Cynthia Erivo will be the main host of Broadway's Biggest Night. Otherwise, a star-studded list of celebrities will appear throughout the ceremony to introduce performances and/or announce Tony Award winners. This year's presenters at the Tonys include Sara Bareilles, Danielle Brooks, Kristin Chenoweth, Bryan Cranston, Charli D'Amelio, Ariana DeBose, Jesse Eisenberg, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Katie Holmes, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Allison Janney, Rachel Bay Jones, Adam Lambert, Lea Michele, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kelli O'Hara, Sarah Paulson, Carrie Preston, Keanu Reeves, Lea Salonga, Jean Smart, Ben Stiller, Aaron Tveit, Michelle Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Alex Winter. 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Jonathan Groff — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a MusicalGracie Lawrence — Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a MusicalDerek McLane — Best Scenic Design of a MusicalCatherine Zuber — Best Costume Design of a MusicalPeter Hylenski — Best Sound Design of a MusicalAndrew Resnick and Michael Thurber — Best Orchestrations;(L-R) Tina Landau; Taylor Trensch, Jeremy Jordan, Lizzy McAlpine, and Jason Gotay in Floyd Collins. Written and directed by lesbian playwright Tina Landau, Floyd Collins was also nominated in six categories at the Tony Awards. Best Revival of a MusicalJeremy Jordan — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a MusicalTaylor Trensch — Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a MusicalScott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun — Best Lighting Design of a MusicalDan Moses Schreier — Best Sound Design of a MusicalBruce Coughlin — Best Orchestrations Emilio Madrid Conrad Ricamora and Cole Escola in Oh, Mary!. 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