The owners of Brunch restaurant plan to open an arcade bar in the former Lucille’s Piano Bar location on Old World Third Street in downtown Milwaukee.
Morgan and Michael Sampson want to open 1983 Arcade Bar at 1110 N. Old World Third St., according to a liquor license application with the city of Milwaukee.
Edward Owen, Morgan Sampson’s father, will have a 20 percent ownership stake in the project. They plan on opening the bar on Oct. 15.
The arcade bar will feature 25 arcade cabinets, four pinball machines and two areas for people to play old console games like Nintendo or Sega Genesis, said Michael Sampson.
The bar will also serve a combined menu from Ale Asylum and Matador Taco, also tenants in the Riverfront Plaza building.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for two years, and had been talking to the owner of Lucille’s about it,” Sampson said. “It’s a popular idea in a lot of other cities.”
This could become the second arcade-themed bar in Milwaukee. Des Moines, Iowa residents Joshua Ivey and Sam Summers are planning to convert the former Comedy Cafe building at 615 E. Brady St., into Up-Down MKE in February.
“I’m not too worried about it, the Badgers always beat the Hawkeyes,” Sampson said.
The Sampsons opened Brunch at 800 N. Plankinton Ave. in June 2016. Earlier this week, they announced plans for a second Brunch location at Sendik’s Towne Centre in Brookfield.
1983 Arcade Bar will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays.
Lucille’s Piano Bar & Grill closed in October 2016. The 7,235-square-foot space is located on the first floor of the Riverfront Plaza building near the new Milwaukee Bucks arena and entertainment district that is currently under construction.
