New bars, restaurants opening in April include former Buck Bradley's and Punch Bowl Social spaces

Some highly anticipated bars and restaurants are opening in April in preparation for a busy Milwaukee summer.

Many new spots are reimagined bars and restaurants downtown like Copper on King, which will open in the former Buck Bradley's spot, and The New Fashioned opening in the former Punch Bowl Social space. In addition, Paloma, a popular Washington Heights restaurant, is opening its second and larger location in Bay View.

In order of opening date, here are three new bars and restaurants opening in Milwaukee in April.

The New Fashioned

1122 N. Phillips Ave., April 6

The New Fashioned will be the newest and largest attraction in the Deer District as it takes over the former Punch Bowl Social space in early April.

It will bring a mix of drinks, dining, shopping and activities to the 24,500-square-foot space.

The concept will showcase various local offerings, from a 50-line self-serve tap wall with local brews and Sprecher soda to a mini store curated by The Waxwing (a Milwaukee shop that closed its retail location in 2020).

The New Fashioned also will have activities like bowling, as did its Punch Bowl Social predecessor; dartball, a mix of darts and baseball; and year-round street curling — a form of curling played on an iceless, synthetic surface — on the patio and second-floor deck.

It also will complement the Deer District plaza with the "tailgate lounge," a to-go food stand that faces The Beer Garden, and a self-serve custard stand.

The New Fashioned will celebrate its grand opening from 2 to 5 p.m. April 6. In true Wisconsin fashion, the first 150 customers will get a pull tab. Milwaukee mascots Bango, Roscoe and Bernie Brewer will be there to cut the ribbon for the new space and to take photos with attendees. There will also be complimentary frozen custard and Sprecher soda samples. Tickets cost $4.14 and are available online. A portion of the ticket sales will go to The Bucks Foundation.

Grand opening events continue April 7 as Wisconsin curling Olympians Becca Hamilton, Tom Howell, Debbie McCormick and Tyler George will be at The New Fashioned from noon to 2 p.m. teaching people about the game and talking about the Olympic experience. Tickets are $20 per person; kids 12 and younger are free but require a ticket. Tickets include a hot ham and cheese sandwich, and kids get a commemorative medal if they give curling a try. Tickets are available online; proceeds will be donated to USA Junior Curling Association.

Later that day Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens will be the celebrity bartender at The New Fashioned and serve up Berens Old Fashioneds from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Milwaukee band Wire and Nail will perform and Berens will autograph bottles of Berens Old Fashioned Brandy available to purchase on-site. Tickets are $30 and only available to guests 21 and older. They include a Berens Old Fashioned made by the local celeb and free curling, dartball and bowling. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee and are available online.

Starting April 6, the New Fashioned will be open 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Paloma Bay View

2154 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., April 18

This popular Washington Heights restaurant is opening its second location in Bay View.

The new spot on the ground floor of the KinetiK Apartments building will have seating for 64 inside with an additional 20 on the patio, about double the size of its current spot at 5419 W. North Ave.

There will be some menu similarities, but some plates will be exclusive to either Bay View or Washington Heights, all made by owner Pattie Ford, and sous chefs Bernard Fanning and Dylan Hetzel. The new spot also will have more tequila options and flights.

The Bay VIew location also will offer brunch Friday through Tuesday and a few televisions for game-watching.

"We expect to be extremely busy. There's 160 apartments above me, and it's a bigger layout with more space," Ford said. "It's exciting."

Ford said she wanted to get a few weeks of business under their feet before Cinco de Mayo, which always is her busiest day at the original location.

Copper on King

1019 N. King Drive, mid-April

The former Buck Bradley's space will reopen in April as Copper on King. The new concept comes from Peter Marshall, who also owns Pete's Pub, 1234 E. Brady St.

Copper on King's drink menu will have a focus on Moscow mules, of course served in copper mugs, and local craft beers. The food menu is still in the works.

The interior of the space was updated with copper fixtures, but Marshall said he thinks it still has the feel of Buck Bradley's, which was a popular entertainment district bar for 28 years until it closed in July 2023.

"I'm really proud of the way it's looking," Marshall said. "I don't think anyone will be upset. It will be a very purposeful aesthetic to just update the previous bar."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 2 new bars and restaurants near Fiserv Forum are opening in April