Summer of '85 is turning Historic King Drive into a full‑on flashback, anchoring Bronzeville with a two‑level arcade bar and restaurant drenched in neon and unapologetic 1980s kitsch. Inside, retro arcade cabinets, looping movie clips and a tongue‑in‑cheek menu of themed cocktails and TV dinner style plates set the mood. Owners pitch it as family friendly during the day, then a late‑night lounge geared toward the 30‑plus crowd after hours.
Owners Paul Burgess and Julie Lucas told TMJ4 they wanted a place that salutes 1980s pop culture while staying rooted in the neighborhood. Urban Milwaukee reported that the two‑story space at 2213 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. opened with a soft launch before a grand opening weekend starting Sept. 4, 2025, repurposing the former SkyBox Sports Bar into roughly 5,000 square feet of dining, bar and entertainment space.
What You'll Find Inside
According to Summer of '85, the venue packs in two full bars, a mural‑covered main dining room, a patio and a downstairs lounge fitted with a miniature arcade and DJ booth. Vintage cabinets, neon marquees and a 40‑foot graffiti wall by local street artist Therd double as both decor and an Instagram backdrop. Management has regular themed nights, live DJs and surprise guest bartenders on the calendar to keep things from going stale.
Food, Drinks And Family-Friendly Hours
The menu leans playful and nostalgia heavy. Guests can order items like the Dojo and the Hulk Hoagie, plus shareables such as Teenage Mutant Mozzarella Sticks and Easy‑Bake‑style desserts, while cocktails come with names like the Caramel Chameleon. CBS58 highlighted the themed drinks and totcho riffs when it featured the spot. The owners and local coverage note that the venue keeps family hours early in the week, then shifts into a 30‑plus lounge vibe as the night goes on.
King Drive, Events And Community
Summer of '85 is part of a growing cluster of nostalgia‑driven hangouts along King Drive and has joined neighborhood programming like Social X MKE’s Wind Down happy hour series, according to Social X MKE. The Historic King Drive business district has been promoting the venue as one of the bright spots in Bronzeville’s renewed storefront activity and late‑night scene. Urban Milwaukee also notes that the owners plan special themed nights, including Back to the Future‑style celebrations, to draw local crowds.
For Milwaukee locals, Summer of '85 functions as both neon time capsule and another reason to stay on King Drive for the evening. Reservations, events and menus are listed on the venue’s site and social channels at Summer of '85, adding one more visible sign of small‑business momentum along Historic King Drive.
