Twisters Inn - Milwaukees First Black Biker Bar

Twisters Inn, Milwaukee's first Black biker bar, has been a historical part of African-American motorcycle culture for over 50 years. Regulars describe the bar as Cheers because “everybody knows your name.” Milwaukee is synonymous with motorcycle culture. Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle company, was founded in Milwaukee in 1903. The brotherhood of riders that frequent the Twisters consider this bar their home. The establishment has served the community as a bar and motorcycle clubhouse for Throttle Twister M.C., which was formed in 1959, and Wolf Pack M.C., which was established in 1994. When M.C.s from other parts of the country travel to Wisconsin, they stop at Twisters to respect where Milwaukee's Black biker culture began. LaToya Howard took ownership of the establishment in 2021 after her father, Miley “Shorty” Howard, passed away. The pub was previously called Shamrocks until 1990, when “Shorty,” former president of Wolfpack MC, took ownership. Now, carrying on her father's legacy, Howard says that her business sensibility moving forward with the bar is “slow and steady wins the race.” Twisters Inn, hosted their annual Juneteenth celebration, where patrons could walk to and from the parade route, which runs along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.