In 1995, Nathaniel Davauer visited his first Milwaukee restaurant: Cielito Lindo in Walker’s Point. Little did he know at the time that he would open a tavern in the historic building next door a mere 29 years later.
Pomeroy, 723 S. 2nd St., quietly opened last week and remains a work-in-progress. But the progress, so far, is impressive.
Like all of Davauer’s establishments – which include Draft & Vessel Shorewood and Wauwatosa along with Giving Tree Garage – Pomeroy’s decor is a culmination of repurposed materials, antique finds and family heirlooms.
The original floorboards of the space now decorate the back wall; donated church pews are booths; timbers from the defunct Flux Design serve as building materials; old sewing machine stands are now tables; his grandmother's farm phone hangs from the wall.
"This is what we do: we claim stuff and we reuse it," says Davauer.
Originally, the decor was inspired by the general store in the Milwaukee Public Museum’s Streets of Old Milwaukee. Davauer was inspired by the exhibit years ago, but waited until he opened an establishment in the city of Milwaukee proper to implement it.
"When I saw the general store (in the Streets of Old Milwaukee) I thought, 'what if that was a bar?'" says Davauer.
The tavern is named after his great grandparents whose surname was Pomeroy. Like the founder of Milwaukee, Solomon Juneau, Davauer’s ancestors were French and they came to Wisconsin from Canada to work as fur trappers. He considered painting a mural of Juneau inside Pomeroy as another nod to his family, but decided George Walker was more appropriate considering the location.
“Walker’s Point is obviously the location of the bar, but it's also quintessentially Milwaukee,” says Davauer.
Perhaps the most prominent piece of decor – also a nod to the Streets of Old Milwaukee – is a massive penny-farthing bike hanging on the north wall. Davauer purchased it from a bicycle builder in Uruguay and decided before hanging it that he wanted to try to learn to ride it. He imagined himself riding the tall bike in the Milwaukee Pride Parade – Pomeroy is on the parade route – but the experience didn't go as planned. Davauer fell off the bike and broke his arm and wrist which required surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon hit a nerve and paralyzed his arm.
“When you fall off one of those bikes it’s a long way to the ground,” he says.
Davauer was incapacitated for three months which delayed construction time for both Giving Tree Garage and Pomeroy. Currently, his hand is much stronger, but still challenged.
Davauer's other spots are known for the extensive craft beer selection, and Pomeroy has a vast array. However, it also offers draft cocktails, seltzers, ciders, sangrias, CBD/THC drinks and zero-proof mocktails.
“We are committed to great beer in the neighborhood, but we're also following the lead of where the industry is going,” says Davauer.
Guests can bring in food from Cielito Lindo or other restaurants on the block including Steny's and Cute Robot Kitchen.
Another difference between Pomeroy and his other businesses is that it's equipped to welcome larger groups. Soon, private booths that seat eight people will be available.
“The larger seating areas are new for us,” says Davauer.
Davauer plans to have a grand opening at the end of the month and will solidify that soon. He hopes by that time the Pomeroy sign – which he described as a turn-of-the-Century/smaller version of the Pabst Theater sign – will be finished. But if not, that’s fine too. He’s perfectly comfortable letting details unfold organically.
Pomeroy is open daily from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. or midnight. Follow Pomeroy on Facebook and Instagram.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
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