Joe Zanotti is a rock and roll guy. But Club Havana, the salsa dance club and cigar bar at 789 N. Jefferson St. that he owned and operated for the past five years, was, quite obviously, anything but rock and roll.

One of the perks of owning your own bar, however, is possessing the power to decide how it operates, and with that, Zanotti shifted his establishment into a different gear -- one packing a bit more of a punch.

As of the last week in October, Club Havana was dust in the wind and by Friday, Nov. 3, the Bad Genie Rock Lounge was ready to rock.

"We needed a change down here," he says. "I just felt like cigars had run their course, so I decided that I was finally going to turn this place into something that I've always wanted to turn it into. Nobody is really doing rock and roll (in Milwaukee) and it was always a passion of mine to do a classic rock and roll bar."

Like rock and roll itself, the changes to the fairly large bar are anything but subtle. Rich red walls hold several striking paintings of music icons without who rock as we know it might never have happened. Mick Jagger, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix hang out in the front bar, David Bowie looks over the upper lounge and Frank Zappa heads the stairwell leading up to the (free) pool lounge.

Club Hanava had been closing five nights a week during October while Zanotti and crew revamped the interior into a little slice of rock heaven.

"It turned out exactly how we wanted it to -- this is how rock lounges in the '60s and '70s looked," he says, referencing the lamps built into the bar, the pillows and the couches. "We've lost all the romance with all these new places that open. There's no romance, no character, nothing to grab onto. It has to look a little rough, yet comfortable and warm and you gotta have the music."

The music is predominantly classic rock pumped out through a dynamite new stereo system, although he says he plans to "play to the crowds," and if it takes a little Oasis to do so, then so be it.

The logo -- a "bad" genie inside of a martini shaker -- is one that Zanotti says he found while perusing an old martini book, and dates back to the 1930s. But don't let the shaker fool you -- this is not a martini lounge, it's a rock and roll lounge. It is so rock, in fact, that the handful of martinis it does offer have clever rock icon names: Jimi Hendrick's Experience (made, obviously, with Hendrick's gin), Apple martini, a tribute to Apple Records, a Moody Blues and another Jimi nod, the Purple Haze.

The word that Zanotti uses to describe his martini selection is "old-school."

"We're going back to the basics. If you want gin, you're getting Bombay Sapphire. If you want vodka, you're getting Kettle One -- none of that lemon-raspberry stuff. We're not going there."

Bad Genie Rock Lounge's grand opening party is set for Friday, Dec. 1, but you don't have to wait until then to enjoy $2 bottles of Pabst and the rock of ages.

26 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by Cepheid on Dec. 10, 2006 at 8:08 a.m. (report)

Antonio: It is unfortunate to see such a nice place as Club Havana close down. I have to concur with Jason. I sincerely believe that seeing Havana go is a huge loss for the Latino community. It allowed a place for Latinos to enjoy the nightlife in Milwaukees changing downtown. I would have rather seen Club Havana being sold and the "Rock & Roll bar opening somewhere else, maybe in a place like Cudahy or West Allis. I think this would have been a really wonderful and lucrative match for Joe Zanotti. Obviously, this change was nothing more than a financial move for him. In addition to a great match, he would have saved the release of tons of damaging greenhouse gases. Thats 11,098,546 for corporate Milwaukee and nothing for earth loving Latinos. :(

Posted by suze on Nov. 27, 2006 at 8:48 p.m. (report)

Joe, YOU rock! I had a great time the other nite hangin with the Bad Genie rock crowd. Let the games begin upstairs on those two beautiful tables. Good luck to you and all of your staff. Susan:)

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 15, 2006 at 1:50 p.m. (report)

John said: Vnuk's Lounge has been doing the Rock/Music Lounge thing for 10 years now. And doing it quite well ! This is simply another Copy !!

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 14, 2006 at 11:12 a.m. (report)

Mick J said: First of all, how does someone so suburban call themself Downtown? Puh-leeeeze! As for the concept, it is long overdo as long as it is done well. The comment about the most of the self proclaimed "up and comers" not being around for the advent of this music is insanely naive. The music is real compared to the overproduced gruffy voiced stuff of today. Besides, these groups still move serious record sales every year. It's real up and comers that are buying them. The people of that generation already have them. I guess what I am trying to say is that I know of an "up and comer" that really needs to be an "up and leaver." C-ya!

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 11, 2006 at 9:58 a.m. (report)

blackpanther said: They should simply blow up the cover of the Violent Femmes "The Blind Leading the Naked" and put it over the bar, since that sentiment pretty much sums up this concept. Lame bar for lame-o's. (Classic) rock on Milwaukee !