This page documents Milwaukee's second major area or concentration of LGBT Bars, roughly the area from Second Street and National Avenue to the East. This area was fast becoming the primary concentration of LGBT bars in the city as the center of LGBT bars shifted from closer to Downtown, down to the south during the 1980's.

The corner of 2nd and National was the main area of this new cluster. La Cage dance club (1984+) was the primary draw to the area. But there were many others. A quarter block to the south of 'La Cage' was a building that housed first Mint Bar II/ Angelo's (1986-1991), followed by BJ's Mint Bar (1991-1993), Zippers (1993-1998), and finally Fluid in 1998-- which is still open in 2022.

Within a block radius over time were yet other bars: the pioneer bar to the area was Your Place (1965-1994). Other early bars in the area included the Black Forest bar/ restaurant (1976-1980), slightly more to the east Sugar Shack, a lesbian bar (1975-1984), and after Black Forest closed, Shadows/ Diplomat bar/ restaurant (1980-1984).

As the 1970s led into the 1980's, more bars opened in the neighborhood. Shadows II (1987-1989), Switch (1999-2008), Visions (1991-1992), and Walker's Pint (2001+).

Two blocks to the east, there were two bars right across the street from each other, with a facing main entry door. On the southeast corner of S. Barclay St. and National Avenue was The Boot Camp Saloon (1984-2011). For some time this was Milwaukee's primary Levi/ Leather bar. On the southwest corner of S. Barclay St. and National was first Sugar Shack, a lesbian bar (1975-1984), next D.K.'s bar (1985-1988), and finally Triangle (1988-2012).

In 1995 another bar opened a few blocks farther to the east, on the northwest corner of National and KK River Trail (the far south part of S. Water St.), on the other side of the railroad tracks: first it was Gargoyles (1995-1996), next South Water Street Docks (1997-2003) and finally Kruz (2006+).

All of these LGBT bars concentrated in this area meant there were always new, younger people discovering all of the other bars in the area. It was easy for people to park in one spot for the evening, and walk between the bars as the night progressed and their mood or whim dictated.