Walters' on North in Wauwatosa is being sold after 50 years, but new owners will keep it 'mostly the same'
Walters' on North will close after more than 50 years in Wauwatosa, as it plans to sell to new owners in May.
Manager Jimmy Wilkinson and owner Butch Grbich have been working at the bar at 6930 W North Ave. for nearly 100 years combined.
“Butch has been here more than 50 years, I’ve been here 43. It’s just not as fun anymore,” Wilkinson said.
Walters' prides itself on being a neighborhood bar, where locals can stop in for meals and drinks, and everyone knows each other. It seats 75 to 100 people and is known for its wings and other bar fare.
Wilkinson met his wife there 40 years ago, his daughter Abby Kustermann has been working behind the bar with him for 12 years, and she also met her husband there.
“It’s a good local place. Our clientele meets up and becomes close. It’s not a cliquey thing like that, but people do a lot of fun things together," Wilkinson said. "I’m not crying just yet. I won’t miss the building, just the customers and staff.”
New ownership, same name
A plan of operations document submitted to Wauwatosa's government affairs committee shows the new owners are Jasmine O'Brien, Robert Deiss and Christopher Trudeau. The document said they plan operate Walters' similarly to now.
Deiss told the Journal Sentinel they plan to close on the building and business May 1. They will shut doors temporarily to make a few interior updates, but the space will mostly stay the same and keep the name Walters.'
"It's going to be mostly the same for anyone who walks through the door, just updated, fresher, and a few new faces," Deiss said. "We're very excited. We're adding a few things they don't have now like dartboards, a pool table."
The kitchen will stay behind the bar, and the new group plans to expand on the menu items, with new appetizers, more burgers and later serving hours than Walters' currently has, Deiss said.
According to a liquor license filed with the city of Wauwatosa, Deiss and Trudeau are also owners of Brickyard Pub, 3455 E. Layton Ave, Cudahy, and O'Brien has been an employee there for the past year. Deiss and Trudeau are also listed as owners and liquor license holders for 1309 Bar LLC. Deiss declined to tell the Journal Sentinel which bar that is.
Deiss said he and Trudeau were in the market for a new bar. When they heard of Walters' private listing, they thought it was the right fit.
"The two of us live down the street. We've been going there for years, and we heard that it was for sale," Deiss said. "It's been there 50ish years. Everybody knows it, everybody loves it, we're not looking to change it, just update."
Walters' 'special' place to customers
Wilkinson said since word started getting out that Walters' was going to sell, "people have been coming out of the woodwork and letting me know how special this place is to them."
He said that over the years he has witnessed others meeting their longtime friends or life partners at the bar. He has also served generations of customers. One hallmark for Wilkinson is giving candy bars to kids as an incentive to finish their meals.
"I'll have adults come in with their kids and say, 'See, I used to come with your grandpa and I would get a candy bar here too,'" Wilkinson said.
Grbich retired eight years ago, and Wilkinson continued to run the bar. He said that they started talking about selling the business and the building when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“I’ve been here long enough. It’s just that I’m still short staffed, I missed enough with my wife and kids, and I know it’s time,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson said the new owners are approaching current staff about staying, but he and Grbich will retire.
Walters' last day of business will be April 30.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Walters' on North in Wauwatosa is being sold after 50 years
