Lucky Clover is slated to open on Friday, Aug. 26 at 1048 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. in the former home of Brüdd Cafe.
Behind the new modern Irish concept are industry veterans Jake Dehne and Seth Dehne, co-owner Jimmy Manke and operating partners James Sanchez and Taylor Korslin along with Sam Grady, director of marketing and business development, who assisted the team in executing their vision for the cozy new bar.
The cozy new bar, which comprises about 1500 square feet of the Steinmeyer Building, was designed to reflect a more modern Irish pub feel, featuring a combination of warm wood accents, plus plentiful greenery – from live plants to a branded turf wall – which serve to bring the outdoors inside the space.
At the bar, guests will find a bartop covered with 23,000 hand-placed pennies, all but two of which are placed heads up (see i you can find the two that aren't).
The focal point of the space is its large wooden namesake Lucky Clover, which was designed by Wisconsin-based Zoli’s Woodcarving explicitly for the new bar.
The wooden statues comes accompanied by a plaque which offers suggestions for the best ways to use it to summon luck: “A touch brings you luck today; A touch with a shot brings you luck the next day; A touch with friends brings you luck to no ends.”
Seating is available for about 60 guests on the first floor, along with accommodations for up to 40 in the upper mezzanine, which is currently set up to act as both a lounge area as well as a private event space for smaller parties.
Dehne says that venue will host regular live music, including solo acts during happy hour on weekdays, as well as DJs for late night and weekend crowds.
As for its offerings, Lucky Clover will make its debut as a bar only, focusing on 24 tap lines featuring a mix of Irish and craft brews, a curated selection of higher end whiskeys and Scotch and a craft cocktail menu.
However, beginning in October, The Lucky Clover will also roll out a small food menu that pays homage to Irish pub fare with options like Reuben rolls, Irish nachos, soups and stews.
Dehne, who also operates RWB Milwaukee just next door to Lucky Clover, says the new Irish pub is filling a niche in the area.
“In 20 years, there’s never been an Irish bar here,” he notes. “So we’re hoping to add something new to the entertainment district and really help to activate this side of the street.”
He says he anticipates the bar will serve two distinctive audiences: a business casual crowd during happy hour and into the early evening between 4 and 10 p.m. and a younger audience which syncs up with the RWB Milwaukee audience after 10pm.
Starting on Friday, Aug. 26, Lucky Clover will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to close, Saturday from 11 a.m. to close and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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