Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Founded 1908
A fourth-generation Milwaukee tavern whose relocated 1908 home gave the world the 'I Closed Wolski's' sticker.
Wolski's Tavern opened in 1908 after founder Bernard Wolski moved a purchased Brady Street building to 1836 North Pulaski Street. The bar has remained in the founder's family for four generations and is now owned by Bernard and Dennis Bondar. Its closing-time 'I Closed Wolski's' bumper stickers, introduced in the 1970s, turned a neighborhood tavern into a Milwaukee emblem.
Bernard Wolski buys a building on Brady Street and has it moved to Pulaski Street, where he intends to open a tavern.
Source: OnMilwaukee, "Wolski's Tavern turns 100," February 11, 2008
Bernard Wolski opens Wolski's Tavern at 1836 North Pulaski Street.
Source: Wolski's Tavern official website; Spectrum News 1, "Wolski's Tavern celebrates 115 years," October 15, 2023
Michael and Bernard Bondar purchase Wolski's from a third cousin; Dennis Bondar later joins them in the family business.
Source: Wolski's Tavern official website; Visit Milwaukee, "Wolski's Tavern"
The 'I Closed Wolski's' bumper-sticker tradition begins after customers who stayed until closing ask for recognition; accounts credit Mike Bondar with creating the sticker.
Source: Spectrum News 1, "Wolski's Tavern celebrates 115 years," October 15, 2023; OnMilwaukee, "Urban spelunking: A deep dive into the history of Wolski's Tavern," October 13, 2023
Wolski's celebrates its 100th year in business.
Source: OnMilwaukee, "Wolski's Tavern turns 100," February 11, 2008
The tavern marks 115 years, with Bernard and Dennis Bondar identified as current family owners and younger relatives identified as prospective next-generation successors.
Source: Spectrum News 1, "Wolski's Tavern celebrates 115 years," October 15, 2023
Wolski's remains an operating Pulaski Street tavern; in June it serves the last keg of Schlitz beer in its inventory while continuing other beer service.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Last call at Wolski's Tavern serves its final keg of Schlitz beer," June 6, 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The official Wolski's history and independent Milwaukee reporting identify Bernard Wolski as the 1908 founder. OnMilwaukee further documents his 1907 purchase and move of the building from Brady Street to Pulaski Street.
The official tavern history, Spectrum News 1, Fox 6 and Milwaukee lifestyle reporting all describe Wolski's as a four-generation family business. Bernard and Dennis Bondar are identified as current owners and descendants of founder Bernard Wolski.
Current owners and multiple local accounts date the sticker tradition to 1973, when customers who stayed from opening to bar time asked for a reward. Accounts identify Mike Bondar as the person who devised the sticker.
Credible local accounts say the stickers have appeared around the world, and the tavern displays photographs of distant sightings. This review did not find verified evidence for the all-seven-continents claim or the candidate's specific Antarctica, Great Wall, and space-research-facility examples.
The candidate supplies no reliable source for this specific Prohibition-era operation, and this review did not locate an independent license, directory, newspaper, or business record to support it.
The tavern's active official site lists current hours, address and phone number. A June 2026 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report also confirms ongoing operation.
Wolski's Tavern was founded by Bernard and Paulina Wolski in 1908.
The sources reviewed identify Bernard Wolski as the 1908 founder. They do not establish Paulina Wolski as a co-founder.
Source: Wolski's Tavern official website; OnMilwaukee, February 11, 2008; Spectrum News 1, October 15, 2023
Wolski's has been in the same building at Pulaski Street since the building was constructed in 1884.
No reviewed source establishes an 1884 construction date. Bernard Wolski bought a building on Brady Street in 1907 and moved it to the current Pulaski Street site before opening the tavern in 1908.
Source: OnMilwaukee, "Wolski's Tavern turns 100," February 11, 2008
Dennis and Bernard Wolski created the 'I Closed Wolski's' bumper sticker in 1973.
The 1973 tradition is well supported, but accounts credit Mike Bondar with creating the sticker after customers asked for recognition for staying until closing time.
Source: Spectrum News 1, October 15, 2023; OnMilwaukee, October 13, 2023; TMJ4, October 1, 2025
Wolski's bumper stickers are documented on all seven continents, including Antarctica and space facilities.
The stickers are credibly reported to appear around the world, but this review did not locate verified support for the all-seven-continents claim or its named destination examples.
Source: OnMilwaukee, February 11, 2008; Urban Milwaukee, February 24, 2013; Fox 6 Milwaukee, October 2, 2025
Wolski's survives through a tightly held family business, a stable neighborhood identity, and a tradition that lets regulars participate in its mythmaking. The Bondar brothers preserved the tavern's basic character while turning a closing-time sticker into an earned local ritual recognized far beyond Milwaukee.
Wolski's Tavern was established in 1908 by Bernard Wolski. He bought a building on Brady Street in 1907, moved it to its present Pulaski Street site, and opened the tavern there the next year.
Bernard and Dennis Bondar own Wolski's Tavern. The brothers are descendants of founder Bernard Wolski and represent the fourth generation of family ownership; the tavern's official site says they still own it.
The sticker is earned by staying at Wolski's until closing time; it cannot be purchased. The tavern's official site says the tradition began in 1973 and requires a late night at the bar.
Local accounts and the current owners date the tradition to 1973. Customers who stayed from opening until bar time wanted recognition, and Mike Bondar created the 'I Closed Wolski's' sticker as the reward.
No. Bernard Wolski bought the building on Brady Street in 1907 and had it moved to 1836 North Pulaski Street before opening Wolski's Tavern there in 1908.
Yes. Wolski's Tavern remains open at 1836 North Pulaski Street in Milwaukee. Its official site lists current daily hours, though visitors should check the schedule directly before going.
1836 N Pulaski St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 276-8130
Stickers are earned, not purchased, after staying until closing. Check the tavern's current hours before visiting, especially for weekend closing times.