The Haunting of Shaker's Cigar Bar

September 3, 2024
The Haunting of Shaker's Cigar Bar
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It's a spooky tale of dismal disaster, as we dive into the spooktacular history of Shaker's Cigar Bar in Milwaukee, WI.  This famed location offers many things including, cigars, fine spirits (literally) and a tale of a dark history that has followed this historical location since the 1800's.

Here are some of the experiences the locals who frequent Shaker's Cigar Bar have reported:

  • Disembodied voices are heard throughout the women's bathroom. The bathroom stall door opens randomly and for no reason at all by forces unseen.
  • Moving objects have been reported in the Penthouse and guests have sighted a woman's apparition.
  • Guests report and eery and uneasy feeling in the basement. The doors in the basement shake like an earthquake and without warning. It's also been reported that women have felt something "pull" their hair in the basement and an old safe moves about the floor.

History

The Haunting of Shaker's Cigar Bar

Although the history of this bar dates back to the late 1890s, many events have been said to have happened within the building. It's been a site for Schlitz Brewery and a soda bottling site.  


It's said that the land on which it was built was surrounded by an Indigenous cemetery before it was built.  


In the 1920s and 30s, it's reported that Shaker's Cigar Bar became a speakeasy and it was said to be operated by Frank & Al Capone.  


It's rumored to have been a brothel in the top 2 floors of the building.  Prostitutes who were all said to be teenagers,  mobsters, and gamblers frequented the brothel which was in operation until 1945. It was frequented by the warehouse district workers who worked and resided in the area. A young girl named Elizabeth was said to have died on the property after falling out of an apple tree on this land and breaking her neck.  


Many people have died in this building including a teenage prostitute who was brutally murdered by a jealous client, a bartender who was skimming earnings from a gambling match, gamblers who were found cheating, and many, many more.  


In 1986, Bob Weiss purchased the building and the heads of all the manifestations that had been proclaimed to have been a part of this bar's history. He tried to keep it in its spooky glory, with dark woods, very little light, amazing food for foodies, and delicious drinks and spirits—yes, literally.  



The Haunting of Shaker's Cigar Bar

Over the years, numerous visitors and staff have reported unexplained events and ghostly encounters. 


Some claim to have seen full-body apparitions, while others have experienced strange sounds, cold spots, and even objects moving on their own. 


Visitors and staff alike have recounted eerie experiences that are hard to explain. On the third floor, which once served as a brothel, many have reported seeing the spirit of a young girl named "Molly," believed to have died under tragic circumstances. 


Some guests claim they've seen her standing in the hallway or felt her presence near the staircase. Others have heard unexplained footsteps and whispers in the otherwise empty rooms.


In the basement, which was once used as a storage area for the bar's illicit goods during Prohibition, there have been reports of shadowy figures and objects moving on their own. 


Some employees refuse to go down there alone due to the overwhelming feeling of being watched or followed. Cold spots, which are commonly associated with paranormal activity, have also been frequently reported throughout the building.


One of the most unsettling experiences involves the apparition of a woman in a white dress, often seen in the upstairs bar area. Patrons and staff have described seeing her out of the corner of their eye, only for her to vanish when they turn to look directly at her. This figure is often associated with the building's brothel days, adding another layer of mystery to the haunting.


Shaker's Cigar Bar fully embraces its haunted history, offering ghost tours that delve into the building's past and the numerous paranormal reports. These tours provide a chance to explore areas of the bar not typically open to the public and hear firsthand accounts of ghostly encounters. 


Whether you believe in the supernatural or are just curious, the stories and experiences at Shaker's make it a must-visit spot for anyone interested in the paranormal.


Cigars, Spirits, Great Food,Paranormal Activity & Ghost Tours



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