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Bartender, iconic Wolski' sticker creator dies
Mike Bondar, longtime bartender and fourth-generation caretaker of Milwaukee's famous Wolski’s Tavern, has died, his family announced on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
MILWAUKEE - A longtime Milwaukee legend has passed away.
What we know:
The Bondar family announced on Wednesday, Oct. 1, that Mike Bondar, the longtime bartender, caretaker and storyteller of Wolski’s Tavern, has died. His family said he went peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday.
He was 74.
Mike Bondar, courtesy of the Bondar family
Bondar, a great-grandson of the original founders, was a fixture behind the bar for decades. His family said he was known for his wit, warmth and uncanny ability to remember a customer’s order before they sat down.
The backstory:
Founded in 1908 on Pulaski Street just north of Brady Street, Wolski’s has stayed in the same family for four generations. What began as a modest neighborhood tavern grew into a Milwaukee institution, even earning a spot in Esquire magazine’s list of America’s "Best Bar City."
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The bar built its reputation on community, camaraderie, and the idea that lasting until closing time isn’t just a night out – it’s a rite of passage.
That tradition turned legendary in the 1970s, when Bondar put his own stamp on the culture. After a group of loyal patrons there from noon to 2 a.m. joked about surviving the bar’s marathon hours, Mike came up with the "I Closed Wolski’s" sticker – a tongue-in-cheek reward that became a global icon.
"One night they said, you know you should give us something – we were here – we stayed here all 14 hours. My brother Mike said okay well we will give you these, he made these stickers up," Bernard said.
Today, the stickers are everywhere. On bumpers in Milwaukee, in pubs across Europe, and on street signs from Asia to the Caribbean, the message travels: closing down Wolski’s means you’re part of a story bigger than one night at a bar.
What they're saying:
"It’s hard to picture Wolski’s without Mike," the Bondar family said in a statement. "But just like our great-grandparents before us, he made sure this place would live on – not just for our family, but for Milwaukee. The tavern will remain open, the stickers will keep circulating around the globe, and Mike’s spirit will always be on Pulaski Street."
Bernard recalled the long hours in the bar’s early days, saying the tavern became a refuge for many during tough economic times.
"We had people coming at noon and staying until 2 a.m.," he said.
Mike Bondar
Mike’s nephew Sean remembered him as a man who made everyone feel welcome.
"Very good at bartender jokes. And making people enjoy their time here. That’s probably how he would want to be remembered," Sean said.
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Family members said Bondar died surrounded by loved ones after a brief decline. His send-off will be held at Wolski’s, keeping with the tradition he helped build.
"Still doing it – still looking forward, going ahead," Bernard said. "I think we’ll be here another 50 years. God willing."
Bernard plans to retire soon, with his two nephews set to take over the tavern and continue its legacy.
The family invites the community to honor Mike the best way they know how: by raising a glass, staying late and carrying on the tradition of closing Wolski’s.
The Source: The Bondar family provided information and spoke with FOX6 News.