Mike Bondar, Creator of Iconic 'I Closed Wolski's' Sticker, Dies at 81

Mike Bondar, the longtime bartender, caretaker, and creative mind behind the iconic "I Closed Wolski's" sticker, has passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends. A great-grandson of the founders, Bondar was a fixture at Wolski's Tavern, a Milwaukee institution established in 1908 and run by the same family for four generations. The stickers, created in the 1970s as a tongue-in-cheek reward for patrons who stayed from noon to 2 a.m., have become a global symbol of Wolski's culture, spotted on bumpers and landmarks worldwide. Bondar was known for his wit, warmth, and uncanny ability to remember customers' orders, embodying the community spirit that made the tavern a beloved local landmark. His family expressed that while it is hard to imagine Wolski's without Mike, his legacy will live on through the tavern, the stickers, and the spirit he brought to Pulaski Street. The tavern continues to honor his memory and invites the community to celebrate his life and contributions.