Shorewood's Village Pub Owner Celebrates Five Years

Even though Shorewood's Village Pub and Grill has been around for decades, Thursday marks five years at the helm and behind the bar for pub owner Dennis Cox and he is taking advantage.

An anniversary party 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday boasts a complimentary buffet from guest bartenders, Brewers' ticket giveaways and specials on food and drinks all night long.

The Village Pub, 4488 N. Oakland Ave., is a well known part of the neighborhood, according to Cox. The pub was voted best suburban bar by OnMilwaukee.com readers for the last two years.

“For people who live in Shorewood, you can come in here and you’re pretty much guaranteed to see someone you know,” he said.

Cox said the Village Pub has a certain charm to it.

“It’s been around so long, and it’s not a chain restaurant," he said. "It’s really like the old TV show ‘Cheers'."

The regulars contribute to the ‘Cheers’ feel, where everybody knows your name. At Thursday’s anniversary party, regulars George and John will guest bartend.

“Everyone knows George and John. Sometimes they’re too regular,” Cox joked.

He added the pub is known for its diverse crowd.

“We get people in suits and ties from million dollar homes or the guy who works third shift down the road. It’s a very diverse group of people,” said Cox, who described the clientele as a young, professional, upbeat crowd.

“People are looking for good food and good times. No one’s grumpy. No one fights – ever,” he said.

Cox said his staff is envied by the bars on Water Street as the “backbone of the bar.” Keith Kalberer, Cox’s best friend and promoter, coined the nickname “the Lovelies” for the pub’s young waitresses and bartenders.

Cox is motivated by his love of people.

“I like communicating with people and hearing their stories," he said. "I bartend three times a week."

Though the pub was established in 1963, Cox has owned the restaurant since the previous owner sold it to him five years ago.

“Sam Trecari’s old man owned it. It’s probably one of the oldest pubs in Shorewood,” Cox said.

Cox grew up in Whitefish Bay with his six siblings, who are all in the restaurant business. He now resides in Mequon with his wife of 14 years, Lisa, and two children, Alexandria and Julianna.

After working in the restaurant business for 30 years, Cox took over Village Pub and quickly made it his own.

“I put in the whole menu,” Cox said. “I think you need food in a place like this these days.”

The pubs’ specialty is its double-dipped wings, which are only 45 cents on Mondays.

The pub is also known for its old-school jukebox and is a popular spot for parties and banquets, Cox said.

Something less well-known about the bar is its secret resident, a ghost nicknamed Elsa.

“I don’t know if she’s a great grandmother of whoever," Cox said. "No one’s seen Elsa, but Elsa likes knocking things off the shelves downstairs. She cleared off a whole shelf in my office."

His husky dog will not go down those steps, and staff report strange experiences.

Cox said it has been a tough road to keep the pub thriving during the recession, but he sees the community getting back on track.

“It’s different now," he said. "It used to be people would go out Friday and Saturday nights. Now, people really choose what nights to go out and where to spend that holy dollar, but I think they’re coming back now, booking more parties."

He said since the smoking ban that went into effective last July, the pub has attracted people who wouldn’t have come before, when Village Pub was known as a smoking bar.

"I love the ban. I think it’s great,” Cox said.

Cox is looking forward to the good weather to bring the village back to life.

“That will be fun, when we have a beautiful night and the village pops,” he said.

For more information on Village Pub, visit http://www.shorewoodvillagepub.com/