New Bar to Bring 'Up North' Feel to North Shore

There's something special about a trip "up north" for Paul Hackbarth.

That’s why he is trying to bring a bit of that northern cabin feel to Shorewood and the North Shore with his new bar, Camp Bar, which he hopes to open Halloween weekend.

“It will be like walking into a cabin, but it will still have an urban feel," he said. “It’s going to be what 'up north' means to me."

Under construction at 4044 N. Oakland Ave., Camp Bar will have a northern Wisconsin cabin design, with unique architecture.

“It will have lots of taxidermy, great woodwork and excellent craftsmanship,” he said. “When some people think 'up north,' they think rundown cabin or camping in the woods, but not here."

He added that he's working with an architect that designed some northern Wisconsin cabins he owns.

In the food and drink department, Hackbarth said Camp Bar will offer basic bar foods like pizzas and sandwiches, and while it will have an "upscale" feel, you won't spend more than $3 to $5 for a beer.

“We're looking at a Friday Fish Fry too, because that’s pretty 'up north,'” he said. "Take your typical metal bar sign, and replace it with great 'up north' artwork. It's going to have the feel of a million bucks, but with normal-priced drinks."

Hackbarth said he feels the concept is something very fresh and different for the area, and with construction under way on the , he’s got a good market to start with.

“I wanted something that was timeless, not something that would run its course and be done, like a martini bar,” he said.

He purchased the building in January with two storefronts, one of which houses his primary business, Sound By Design. Living four doors outside the village, Hackbarth said Shorewood is close to home and he believes the area is underserved in terms of a bar like this.

"As things progressed with the space next door, I went to Shorewood and told them I was thinking about doing a bar, and they were very encouraging and thought it would be a great addition with the apartments going up," he said. "I'm really going for that neighborhood bar."

He added he wants Camp Bar to be that place locals go to watch the big game. The bar will be outfitted with big screens, including an 80-inch LED big screen that will sit behind the bar.

With , Hackbarth said he shelled out the $10,000 for the reserve liquor license.