Fannies
Milwaukee
Summary
Washington Street, opened in September 1983 by Sharon Dixon, a former partner in the lesbian bar Sugar Shack. Known for theme parties, drag shows, a fenced outdoor patio and sports leagues, it raised substantial funds for AIDS, cancer and LGBTQ causes. The bar's later years were marked by a 1997 fire, an arson conviction of its owner, and shifts in clientele and management. It closed in 2002 and reopened as Pulse, the first of several later bars to occupy the building before its 2024 demolition.