Generally same, same, and same.
As codercpc stated, theyre just quiet old places with a few regulars. Its an entirely different concept than what most of the rest of the country thinks of as a bar. Its more like your neighborhoods shared recroom.
I remember going with my parents to visit various family friends when we lived in Milwaukee. There were alot of these little places you mention with each one really only servicing an area of a couple of blocks. Most of the houses in these areas had a livingroom where the family watched TV but when guests came over things were often a bit cramped and boring because few if anyone had a family room or recroom so everyone would go across the street to that neighborhoods bar. In those days there were generally chubs and hocks and maybe stringcheese and brats or pizza available in these places. Single guys would often stop in to get something to eat on their way home rather than go fix something for themself and in the process discuss sports or current events with an old couple who was just tired of sitting home alone. There was room to move around, people eagerly waiting to serve you, games for visitors including the kids to play, and someone to clean up after you. It was a recreational place with servants that served beer, not the place where everyone went to just get smashed except for a regular or two at hours after the families and others went home.
Each of these places had some interesting characters who were regulars. One place, "down in the Polish slums", had a regular who wasnt even human. There was a Great Dane who used to show up at one place with money in his collar. The bartender would tap beer in a stainless bowl for him and he would spend the evening hanging out with the other regulars. I suspect the owner preferred him over the other regulars as he always payed up front, didnt pick fights, and never left the bathrooms a mess.
One of the things that nannystaters really have problems with is the part where minors can buy alchohol. These folks tend to imagine adolescents sitting at a bar unsupervised shooting tequila or something. The real reason is more so parents can use their children as personal wait staff and send them up to the bar instead of going themselves. At 6 or so I didnt mind working as waitstaff at all as I usually was allowed to return with an orange soda to drink out of my own pilsner glass!
Don't forget the pickled eggs!
Good post gnarledmaw,
I appreciate being informed.
Ya did a good job.