Retail

The Lib Bookstore

Name: The Lib Bookstore
Address: 601 N. 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee

Summary

The same building had previously held two other LGBT landmarks: the The Loop Cafe from 1963 to 1970, and next door in the same building the New Yorker Lounge from about 1952 to 1975.

Images

The following are recollections of others who have been kind enough to submit their personal memories to the webmaster. You are welcome to do the same! (Recollections collected and organized by Jamie Taylor.) ---> "The Lib on 5th and Michigan from '74 - '81 had a glory hole in the bathroom." / - Josie Carter (July-2009) GPU News

Article: Five men arrested at bookstore, Sept. 1979 / GPU News, vol. 8 no. 12, pg. 15 / GPU News

Facts

Type: Retail
Address: 601 N. 5th Street
City: Milwaukee
Latitude: 43.03754
Longitude: -87.917572
Opened: 1971
Closed: 1986

Sources

Research adapted from the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. Archive page links below point to archive.wislgbthistory.com; for current news and community events, visit wislgbthistory.com.

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project — The Lib Bookstore (retrieved 2026-06-01)

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