Regent Street has been a site of much renovation and change in the past year. From new restaurants to housing, the near-West side community is in the midst of a revitalization. While it’s exciting to watch these future plans unfold — stay tuned for an upcoming City Cast Madison podcast episode for more on that — it’s also critical to take stock of the past and remember our community’s history. Here’s a look at some historic spots on Regent Street.
The Italian Workmen’s Club
The Italian Workmen’s Club was founded in 1912 as a mutual benefit organization in an effort to aid members affected by costs of illness, injury, or death. The club now serves as a community social center in an effort to preserve the culture of Italians and Italian Americans. The club is one of the oldest active Italian Clubs in the U.S. The building is also home to the Greenbush Bar, which was recently bought by Sam Brown, the owner of Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè and Fabiolas.
Lucky’s 1313 Brew Pub
With this bar’s close proximity to Camp Randall, this bar is a classic tailgating spot for many before football games. However, it was not always the bar that many know and love. In the 1920s and 1930s, the location operated as Meier’s Garage. They became a repair garage for Badger Bus, which is why the bar now has garage doors in the front. From 1966-2015, the space was rented out to various tenants, many of which related to some sort of auto repair. However, with some major renovations, in 2015 this space became Lucky’s 1313 Brew Pub.
Greenbush Bakery
This beloved donut shop is a must-see spot in Madison. Marv and Barb Miller opened their Kosher dairy kitchen in 1996 (it’s the only certified Kosher dairy kitchen between Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Chicago). The Millers have been lifelong Madison residents and wanted to bring “old-fashion bakery goods” to the Madison community. Taylor Carlson, the Miller’s grandson, took over the business eight years ago. This past March, Marv Miller passed away at 82-years-old.
