If you grew up in Milwaukee or have been going downtown for years, you already know about Water Street.
For a long time, Water Street has been one of Milwaukee’s best-known nightlife areas. Bars, restaurants, food trucks and crowds of people filled the street, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
But lately, the conversation about Water Street has changed.
Instead of people asking, “Where are we going tonight?” more people are asking:
What is happening to Water Street — and what will Milwaukee nightlife look like in the future?
That’s a question Milwaukee may have to answer sooner rather than later.
Milwaukee Just Backed Away From Its Food Truck Curfew
Earlier this year, Milwaukee approved a new rule that would have required food trucks in parts of downtown to stop operating at 10 p.m.
The idea was that reducing late-night gathering spots could help reduce loitering and some of the problems happening around Water Street.
But the rule never actually went into effect because a judge blocked it while a lawsuit challenging the ordinance moved through court.
Now the city is changing direction.
On Friday, September 11, the Milwaukee Common Council’s Public Safety and Health Committee voted 4-0 to move forward with repealing the restriction. If the repeal receives final approval from the full Common Council and mayor, the previous 1 a.m. limit would return.
And I think that raises a bigger question.
Were the food trucks really the problem?
Water Street Has a Bigger Issue
I understand why city leaders are trying different ideas.
Nobody should have to worry about getting caught in a fight, shooting or some other dangerous situation just because they decided to go downtown and enjoy themselves.
But removing food trucks isn’t going to magically fix Water Street.
Food truck owners are running businesses. Some depend heavily on the late-night crowd. One Water Street food truck worker recently told WISN that roughly 80% of their business comes after 10 p.m.
At the same time, city leaders and people connected to the area argue that the trucks can become gathering points for large groups of people who aren’t necessarily customers of the surrounding bars.
So there are two sides to this conversation.
But either way, Milwaukee still has to deal with the bigger issue:
How do we make Water Street a place people actually WANT to visit again?
Some Businesses Are Already Leaving
This isn’t just talk.
Several Water Street businesses have closed recently, including Duke’s on Water and The Low Country, while Silk on Water announced a temporary closure and cited safety concerns.
That should get our attention.
Because once businesses start deciding that an entertainment district isn’t worth the trouble, the entire personality of that neighborhood can begin changing.
Even Alderman Robert Bauman recently said he believes Water Street’s entertainment district may eventually disappear as Milwaukee has known it.
That’s a pretty serious statement about one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable nightlife areas.
But Water Street Isn’t Dead
This is the part I don’t want people to overlook.
Businesses are still willing to invest in Water Street.
Uppa Yard on Water, a Jamaican restaurant, recently opened in the area despite the recent closures. Management told CBS 58 that it hopes to attract a more mature and inviting crowd while making customers feel safe.
That tells me Water Street doesn’t necessarily have to die.
Maybe it just needs to evolve.
Instead of Water Street being known mainly as a late-night bar strip, imagine a district with more restaurants, live music, lounges, entertainment, food trucks, daytime activities and businesses that attract different age groups.
You could still have nightlife.
You could still have bars.
You could still have fun.
But it wouldn’t have to depend entirely on huge crowds pouring onto the street late at night.
Could More Police Presence Make a Difference?
Another major idea being discussed is having a more permanent police presence on Water Street.
Milwaukee police submitted an application involving the former Duke’s on Water location. MPD said it has been discussing an appropriate public-safety use for the space.
That could put officers directly in the entertainment district instead of relying only on officers being dispatched there when something happens.
But even that brings another debate.
Would a stronger police presence make visitors and businesses feel safer?
Or does Milwaukee need to look beyond policing and rethink the entire design and purpose of Water Street?
I think it’s probably going to take a combination of things.
Water Street Itself Is Already Changing
There’s another piece of this story that hasn’t received as much attention.
Milwaukee is also working on a redesign and reconstruction of North Water Street between East Erie Street and East Clybourn Street in the Third Ward.
The city’s plans have considered pedestrians, bicycles, transit and other improvements to the corridor, with construction activity expected through 2026 and 2027.
So when we talk about the future of Water Street, we’re not just talking about bars and crime.
We’re talking about what kind of downtown Milwaukee we want to build for the next generation.
My Take
I don’t want to see Water Street disappear.
I want to see it get better.
Milwaukee needs places where grown people can go out, listen to music, eat, dance, have drinks and enjoy the city without feeling like they have to leave before things get out of control.
And our small businesses shouldn’t have to suffer because of the actions of people who aren’t even supporting those businesses.
Maybe the Water Street we remember isn’t coming back exactly the way it was.
And maybe that’s okay.
The goal shouldn’t be to recreate Water Street from 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
The goal should be creating a new Water Street — one that’s fun, busy, diverse, profitable for businesses and, most importantly, safe enough that people actually want to be there.
Milwaukee has an opportunity right now to decide what that looks like.
Now I want to hear from Milwaukee:
Do you think Water Street can make a comeback?
Should Milwaukee increase police presence? Bring in more restaurants and entertainment? Change the type of nightlife offered downtown?
Or do you think Water Street’s days as Milwaukee’s main nightlife destination are coming to an end?
And for my longtime Milwaukee people — what do you remember about Water Street back in the day?
Drop your thoughts below.
414 Milwaukee Mil Town — Milwaukee stories, Milwaukee people, Milwaukee conversations.
