Fancy’s, a new neighborhood bar from owner Nate Stiemke, is on deck to take over the longtime corner spot at Vliet Street and 55th in Washington Heights, stepping in for the recently shuttered Biersal Tavern. Stiemke is pitching the project as a classic Milwaukee corner bar, with a pool table, multiple TVs and a long draft lineup. The plan keeps the building’s historic tin ceiling and wood-paneled walls while adding fresh seating and a set of rescued antique booths to warm up the room.
Plans and features
Stiemke, who picked up the nickname “Fancy” while bartending, told Urban Milwaukee he is aiming for a late-summer opening and intends to install 16 tap lines that blend local craft beers with familiar domestic options. He said that “High Life on tap is definitely going to be a thing here” and promised a menu of “really good quality cocktails.”
The owner also plans to bring in a popcorn machine and to revive Wonder Bar’s free-peanut tradition, though in a tidier format, opting for a cleaner approach instead of tossing shells on the floor.
Past tenants and the neighborhood
The two-story corner building at 5520 W. Vliet St. has housed taverns for generations. Wonder Bar served as a neighborhood staple for years, and Biersal opened in 2024 before closing amid financial and tax troubles. Milwaukee Magazine covered Biersal’s closure, while OnMilwaukee has chronicled the building’s long history as a tavern space along with its recent renovations.
Licensing and next steps
A license application for Fancy’s is now pending before the Milwaukee Common Council, with proposed hours listed as 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to Urban Milwaukee. City legislative records also document earlier license filings tied to 5520 W. Vliet St., underscoring the address’s long-running role as a neighborhood tavern; those prior filings are available on the Milwaukee legislative site.
What it could mean for Vliet Street
If Fancy’s clears the council’s licensing process, it would join a small wave of new businesses reshaping the Vliet Street corridor, from Vennture Brew to Neighborhood Draft and other recent arrivals that have helped bring more foot traffic back to the block. OnMilwaukee has spotlighted that uptick in neighborhood activity, and Stiemke’s pitch is to balance the space’s long tavern history with a cleaner, classic bar where neighbors can settle in to watch the game.
