RC Schmidt Obituary, Death – Milwaukee Hospitality Pioneer and Restaurant Entrepreneur Dies at 76

Robert C. “R.C.” Schmidt Jr., the Milwaukee hospitality entrepreneur whose career helped shape the city’s bar and restaurant scene for more than five decades, has died at the age of 76.

Schmidt died September 1, according to an announcement from his family. His death marks the end of a long career that began with a modest neighborhood bar and eventually grew into a wide-ranging hospitality business with restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues throughout the Milwaukee area.

Schmidt entered the hospitality industry in 1974 when, at 24, he opened R.C.’s Beer Garden on East North Avenue. The straightforward neighborhood establishment became a longtime East Side fixture and remained in operation for 44 years.

What began as a single bar eventually became the foundation for a much larger business. After spending part of the early 1980s operating several Chuck E. Cheese franchises, Schmidt returned to the restaurant and tavern industry and embarked on an expansion that would make him one of Milwaukee’s best-known hospitality entrepreneurs.

In 1987, he opened Water Street Brewery. At the time, brewpubs were still relatively uncommon, and the downtown area around Water Street had not yet developed into the major entertainment destination it would later become.

The brewery eventually expanded with locations in Delafield, Grafton and Oak Creek, while Schmidt continued adding new establishments to his growing portfolio.

Over the years, his businesses included Trinity Three Irish Pubs, The Harp Irish Pub, Louise’s Trattoria, Andrew’s Bar & Restaurant, the Historic Turner Restaurant, River House, Oakland Trattoria, SoLo Pizza, Monster Pizza, Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant, Vagabond and Brew City Barbecue, among others. His company also operated food and beverage businesses at major Milwaukee events, including Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair.

The variety of Schmidt’s establishments reflected his broad approach to hospitality. R.C.’s Beer Garden maintained its casual neighborhood-bar character, while several of his downtown properties featured more elaborate designs and extensive collections celebrating Milwaukee’s brewing history.

His work also played a role in the growth of Water Street as a major nightlife and entertainment corridor. In 2008, Milwaukee Downtown honored Schmidt as a “downtown visionary,” recognizing his investment in the city center and his contributions to its hospitality industry.

His son, Matt Schmidt, who now serves as CEO and COO of 4th Street Management, said his father measured his achievements by the people connected to the businesses rather than simply by the number of establishments he operated.

According to the family, Schmidt believed strongly in Milwaukee and placed considerable importance on caring for employees and customers. He was also known for being willing to perform any job necessary within his businesses.

The hospitality company Schmidt built has continued to evolve following changes in the industry and within the family business.

R.C.’s Beer Garden closed in 2018 after more than four decades. The original Water Street Brewery was later renovated and reopened in 2022 under the name The Brewery, preserving a connection to the historic location while introducing a new concept.

The Schmidt family’s business portfolio has also entered another period of transition. In July, the company announced plans to sell two prominent downtown properties occupied by Trinity Three Irish Pubs and Vagabond. Vagabond closed in July after operating for nearly 12 years, while Trinity continued operating as its property was marketed for sale.

Today, the remaining hospitality group includes Trinity, The Harp, The Brewery and Water Street Brewery locations in Delafield, Grafton and Oak Creek.

For more than 50 years, R.C. Schmidt’s influence extended well beyond the businesses that carried his name. His career was intertwined with the development of Milwaukee’s restaurant, tavern and brewpub culture, while many of his establishments became familiar gathering places for generations of residents and visitors.

His family intends to carry forward the business and hospitality principles he established throughout his career.

Schmidt’s death leaves behind a legacy measured not only by the restaurants and taverns he created, but also by the employees, customers, families and communities that became part of the story he spent decades building.