An almost decade-dark North Side corner tavern could soon get a second act, this time with pool tables, dancing and a house beer called Happy Jack’s. The proposed bar is still only a licensing pitch, but the plan is detailed enough to sketch out a late-night neighborhood hangout before the city has said yes.
Owner Elba Lopez filed the license application in April, outlining a tavern built around a simple promise: an environment “where everyone is welcome,” according to Urban Milwaukee. The proposed business would fill a building on Silver Spring Drive that has been vacant for nearly a decade.
A Neighborhood Bar With Pool, Darts And Dancing
Happy Jack’s would offer macrobrews, classic cocktails, wine, energy drinks and soda, along with a house beer carrying the bar’s name. The application also lists frozen pizza and plans to cook and grill food outdoors, although it does not spell out a full food menu.
The concept leans heavily into casual bar games and entertainment. Lopez is seeking permission for two pool tables, a designated gaming area, three amusement machines, a jukebox and dancing, while also planning to form dart and pool teams for patrons.
A floor plan shows the proposed tavern occupying about 2,250 square feet, with table, bar and lounge seating arranged around a dance floor and gaming area. Outdoor seating is not included in the current application, despite the plan to prepare some food outside.
The Building’s Previous Chapter Was A Troubled One
The property formerly housed Mike’s Place, a neighborhood tavern whose owner, Michael Patton, was found shot and killed inside the bar on Oct. 24, 2016. A jury later found Michael Cooper guilty in the killing, and CBS 58 reported that Cooper was sentenced to life in prison.
Happy Jack’s would not be a simple reopening of Mike’s Place, but a new operation with a different owner, name and proposed use. The old Mike’s Place signage and awnings were still visible at the building in late July, giving the vacant corner a distinctly unfinished look.
The Opening Date Has Already Slipped
Happy Jack’s originally aimed to open in mid-June, but the business remains in limbo while it awaits city approval. The proposed hours are 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, according to Urban Milwaukee.
For now, the application is the closest thing Silver Spring Drive has to an opening announcement. Lopez had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication, and no launch date is set until Milwaukee officials approve the licenses.
