On Milwaukee’s South Side, a shuttered nightlife trouble spot could soon get a quieter second act. Pending city approval, Macrina's Sport Bar is poised to move into the tavern space at 1663 S. 11th St., where former tenant Club 69 drew a steady stream of complaints before closing in May after a license suspension.
Owner Marcela Lechuga, who has owned the building with her husband for more than a decade, told city officials she plans to run the place very differently from the last operator. Instead of late-night chaos, she is pitching a lower-key hangout with beer, snacks and plenty of screens for the game.
According to Urban Milwaukee, the application seeks tavern and public entertainment licenses for Macrina’s, with proposed hours of 6 p.m. to midnight every day. Lechuga told the outlet she hopes to open in the coming weeks and wants the bar to feel more family-friendly than its predecessor.
Licenses Committee Recommends Approval
On June 9, the Milwaukee Common Council’s Licenses Committee voted to recommend approval of the new license applications. Committee minutes show a 4-1 vote, with Ald. Peter Burgelis abstaining and Ald. José G. Pérez warning that “this is the applicant’s last chance to get it right.”
Attorney Michael Maistelman represented Lechuga at the hearing and outlined changes to the bar’s safety plan, according to records from Milwaukee Legistar. The updated plan is meant to reassure both the city and neighbors who remember the site’s recent track record all too well.
Owner Pledges Upgrades and Alley Cleanup
Lechuga told Urban Milwaukee she wants to “bring something good for the community.” Her to-do list includes more lighting around the property, interior renovations and a partnership with nonprofit Your Move MKE to clean up and beautify the alley next door.
City records indicate the Lechugas already have experience running a neighborhood tavern. They operate Ma'chuggy’s at 3173 S. 13th St., and Jose G. Lechuga is listed as an agent on the city’s license report. The City of Milwaukee report lists Ma'chuggy’s as a currently licensed tavern in the area.
Neighbors Cite Safety Concerns and Past Enforcement
Several neighbors at the hearing urged the city to tread carefully. They pointed to what they described as gunfire, drug activity and other problems tied to the previous operator, issues that helped trigger a revocation case last fall and a 90-day suspension in 2025.
The Licenses Committee minutes state that Lechuga became involved with the business after that suspension, and committee members noted there were no reported incidents after December 2025. Even so, opponents told officials they remain uneasy about safety at the address and skeptical that a new name alone will fix old problems.
For now, the committee’s recommendation heads to the full Milwaukee Common Council for a final vote. If the council signs off, Macrina's could reopen under the new management and hours. Until then, the block waits to see whether this latest reboot will deliver the quieter, community-minded bar that supporters are hoping for.
