HISTORY
THE UP NORTH BAR LOCATION HAS SEEN MANY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. IT WAS ONCE THE HAVANA CLUB, THE 400, AND THEN SLAMMERS. ONE THING HAS REMAINED THE SAME: THE BACK BAR. DATING BACK TO THE 1800'S. THE ACTUAL BAR ITSELF USED TO BE THE LONGEST BAR IN MADISON. IT WAS A BAR WITHOUT STOOLS, PATRONS WOULD STAND AND SPIT IN SPITOONS WHILE OBSERVING AN OCCASIONAL BAR FIGHT. IT WAS KIND OF A ROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD BACK THEN!
HOTEL RUBY MARIE
NEXT TO THE UP NORTH IS THE HOTEL RUBY MARIE, A HOTEL THAT HAS ALSO SEEN MANY CHANGES! IT WAS ONCE THE WILSON STREET HOTEL, A FLOP HOUSE OF SORTS FOR MEN ONLY, AND A PLACE IMMIGRANTS STAYED AFTER THEY GOT OFF THE TRAIN. NOW, NAMED AFTER THE OWNER'S MOTHER, IT'S A FOUR STAR HOTEL, WITH JACUZZI SUITES AND FREE BREAKFAST. EVERY OLD BUILDING HAS ITS GHOST STORIES, AND WE HAVE OURS. BUT DON'T WORRY, OUR GHOSTS ARE ALL FRIENDLY.
