MILWAUKEE – The popular bar on Milwaukee’s east side “Von Trier” has decided to not rebrand itself following outpouring of public support, the owners announced Tuesday.
Back in August, the owners, John and Cindu Sidoff originally announced the bar was going to close at the end of this year and reopen as a mid-century cocktail lounge.
Those plans did not sit well for many bar goers and prompted a flood of despaired responses on a social media and even a Change.org petition, theMilwaukee Business Journal reported.
"This summer has been a whirlwind to put it mildly...I had no idea how many people truly wanted to see Von Trier thrive during the North Avenue renaissance; the outpouring of support, visitors, and personal messages was overwhelming,” said John Sidoff in a news release.
The bar will still close sometime in January for renovations and will reopen in early February.
Von Trier's food service will return and be expanded, after it was discontinued earlier this year. The new menu will include a Friday fish fry and extend beyond the sausages the restaurant had previously served.
The Sidoffs also announced they will partner with Milwaukee restaurateurs Wes Shaver and Mike Sorge, who will help manage the operations and programming of Von Trier. Shaver and Sorge own Black Sheep and The Love Shack in Milwaukee, and manage the operations of The Schwabenhof in Menomonee Falls.
“We love Von Trier. We love North Avenue," Sidoff said. "We’re looking forward to making some changes and showing how Von Trier can be a part of the renaissance....not resistant to it. We are confident with our enhanced programming, culinary advancements and property improvements that we’ll feel right at home with the emerging new places.”
