The Estate is closed for regular business but will open for special events periodically

Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
The Estate, formerly known as the Jazz Estate, is closed for regular business but will open for special and private events.
The Estate, formerly known as the Jazz Estate, is closed for regular business but will open for special and private events.

The Jazz Estate, most recently known as The Estate, 2423 N. Murray Ave., is closed for regular business but open for special and private events.

For the Christmas season, the bar played host to its popular Charlie Brown Christmas show by The Commercialists. The show run from Dec. 7 through Dec. 22 sold out for every night.

"To be honest, the challenges brought about by the impact of COVID have hit us hard, echoing the struggles faced by many small music venues and historic businesses," owner John Dye said in an email.

Dye rebranded The Jazz Estate as The Estate in February 2023, focusing on cocktails instead of live music. Dye also owns Bryant's cocktail lounge and At Random, both among the best cocktail lounges in the city.

"Despite our best efforts, reopening in 2022 revealed a changed world, and unfortunately, our business didn't pick up as expected," Dye said in the email. "We experimented with various strategies, from hosting large and small jazz groups to exploring different music genres and collaborations.

"Regrettably, these attempts yielded the same outcome: insufficient funds to sustain our musicians, staff, and cover the escalating costs of running a business in the face of inflation," Dye said. "It's disheartening because The Estate holds a special place in the city, boasting a beautiful legacy and one of the finest rooms for live music."

The Jazz Estate first opened in 1977, hosting live music in a small venue with a capacity of 62. It was known as an east side staple for local artists who wanted to perform live music. Dye bought the business in 2015.

The Estate will try to keep its legacy alive by hosting small ticketed events.

Dye said those interested can visit their website at estatemke.com for live music updates and to sign up for an email list for information about upcoming shows and developments in the business.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Jazz Estate on Milwaukee's east side is closed for regular business