Group Tours In Downtown Milwaukee

HISTORY OF OUR BUILDING

1894: Built by Architect, Carl F Ringer (brick out front with his name) for Udo Dorestan for the purpose of the manufacture and sale of “paints, calcimines and varnishes.” Was originally a four-story building.

1908: First fire, owned by August Gallun who had to pay $1,000.00 for damages to building.

1913: Fire again, by then owned by the Gallun Estate. It cost $5,000 to fix the damage.

1935: Inspector Spencer of the City of Milwaukee issued an order for the owner of the building to “provide steps to basement so inspector could enter same.” It is not clear how the basement was accessed in the previous 40 years???  Can only guess.

By 1952, the building was owned by Gus Mader, and, once again, it was time for a fire — this time a big one. “Third and 4th Floor and roof badly damaged by fire, cannot be repaired, will have to be razed,” the inspector wrote. On April 29th, 1953, $13,500 to build a new storefront and entrance to 2nd floor and tear down top two damaged floors.

In August, 1968, Fluegge Optical opened in the building’s second floor, followed in August 1974 by the William Reilly Academy of Ballet.

In 1990 Gus Mader took over the building he owned and opened the Old World Third Street Gallery, an extension of the Mader’s Gift Shop. Here one could find the largest collection of I. M. Hummel figurines.

Finally, after the 21st century got underway, the building became a saloon. First it was Bootleggers in 2006, then Whiskey River in 2010, and finally 2012 The Irish Rec Room complete with indoor rock climbing wall and "excessively large boxing glove matches”….closed less than a year later.

2015: Building purchased by current owners, The View at TRiO (our third floor rooftop) added 2016, hosting many corporate parties, weddings, and groups!  Three floors of FUN…!