Bronze Al, Hot Wheels, and Punk Rock Nights: The Port of Kenosha Story

“Come with an open mind and a good attitude, and you’ll have a good time with others like yourself. Act like an a-hole & you’ll be treated as such, and be asked to leave.” – Craig Pias

By Donny Stancato

If you’ve spent any time in downtown Kenosha, chances are you’ve heard of The Port of Kenosha Beverage House. It’s the kind of place that can’t really be summed up in a single sentence  – part punk bar, part garage sale, part living room, and now, the unlikely headquarters for one of the city’s most ambitious cultural projects: a bronze statue of Kenosha’s own Al Molinaro.

From rowdy nights crammed into the front room to late laughs over cheap beers, The Port has been the backdrop for more memories than I can count. From getting ghosted by my future girlfriend after a memorable night at The Port, to even grabbing the mic with my Ktown Connects podcast partner, Jason Hedman, to call the chaos of The Port Grand Prix. It’s the kind of place where music, mayhem, and too many PBRs all blend together. But sitting down with owner Craig Pias (who forgave me once I finally paid my bar tab from 2016) reminded me that The Port isn’t just a bar. It’s part of Kenosha’s story about the people, the history, and right now, a mission: rallying the community behind the bronze Al Molinaro fundraiser.

The Birth of Bronze Al

The idea started like so many things at The Port — as a casual conversation that turned into something much bigger.

Craig told me the spark came from a Facebook post:

“Keith Pauley asked, if a statue was going to be erected of a local Kenosha celebrity, who should it be? Among some answers were Don Ameche, Daniel J. Travanti, and Orson Welles. My vote, and the majority of votes, went to Al Molinaro. Since the city could’ve done something about it in the past five decades but didn’t, I made the decision to pick up the baton & run with it.”

From there, the idea snowballed. Craig brought it up while bartending, and his regulars jumped on board. Suddenly, this wasn’t just bar talk anymore — it was a full-blown fundraising campaign.

But before anything could move forward, Craig had one important call to make. He reached out to Al’s widow, Betty.

“I was a bit nervous,” he admitted. “How do I convince a woman in her 80s that I’m not a scammer or some random lunatic? She was understandably apprehensive at first, but after quizzing me a little about what she remembered of Kenosha, I gained her trust. We wound up bantering for over an hour. She’s a peach. Once I explained the statue and that I wasn’t asking her for money, she wholeheartedly gave me her blessing.”

The more Craig learned about Al’s life, the more convinced he became that Kenosha needed this.

“He was a genuinely nice man: loyal husband, devoted father, humble & kind all around. He refused acting roles that required cussing, and every year he came back to Kenosha for Cohorama, always with that big grin. He was that nice next-door neighbor, or the fun uncle you hoped would show up to the reunion. He deserves this.”

Building Bronze Al

The statue project has already raised tens of thousands, but Craig admits it’s a grind. As of now, he’s about $13,000 short of the $65,000 goal. With a target unveiling in spring 2026, the hustle is on.

How do you fundraise in true Port fashion? With creativity.

From 50/50 raffles (where winners often donate back their share) to Al Molinaro t-shirts (sold across the street at The Lettering Machine), to bands playing free shows at the bar, every bit helps. And of course, the biggest fundraiser of them all: The Port Grand Prix.

Craig’s vision for the statue itself is simple but powerful. Sculptor Bee Krueger, a UW Whitewater alum, created a spot-on clay model that sold him instantly. Al will be depicted standing with his arms crossed and that humble smile everyone remembers.

“We didn’t want to risk lawsuits by tying it to his Happy Days character,” Craig explained. “So no apron, no ‘Arnold’s.’ Just Al as himself. Because honestly, that’s enough.”

The statue will sit outside The Port, where Craig envisions locals and tourists alike stopping to take pictures, rubbing Al’s nose for luck. “I just wanted to give Kenosha another highlight to be proud of,” he said.

The Port Grand Prix: Where Hot Wheels Meet Punk Rock

If you’ve never seen The Port Grand Prix, imagine a 90-foot Hot Wheels track, an electric starting gate, toy cars flying down steel rails, and grown adults trash-talking like NASCAR pros. That’s the vibe.

The tradition began five years ago when Craig and two regulars were reminiscing about childhood toys. Someone bragged, “My car would’ve beat yours,” and that was all it took. The first year was “like a pig on roller skates,” Craig laughs, but the chaos worked.

Now, the event is a Kenosha staple, drawing 90–100 racers each year. Kids, parents, and retirees all line up with their single chosen car. Divisions split off, trophies are awarded for fastest, slowest, and grand champion, and the winner’s name gets etched on the perpetual plaque behind the bar.

“It’s about bringing out the little kid in everyone,” Craig told me. “Trash talk’s always afoot, but it’s all friendly. People have a blast.”

All proceeds funnel straight into the Bronze Al fund. And with grills smoking in the backyard, cold drinks in hand, and cars zipping toward glory, it’s fundraising Kenosha-style.

The Port: A Punk Bar with Soul

Of course, The Port is more than statues and toy cars. It’s a punk bar through and through.

Craig’s relationship with the place goes back decades. He first walked in at 21, instantly hooked. He became a regular, then a bartender, and after 16 years, when owner Dan Nicolazzi was ready to sell, Craig took the leap. On February 7th, 2014, he reopened the doors as the new owner.

Running a bar in an 1895 building hasn’t been easy. Pipes break, repairs pile up, and money is always a question. But Craig never wanted The Port to be anything else.

“The Port’s always been known as the punk bar,” he said. “When punk was dying in the early ’80s, the original owner opened his arms to the nomads. I grin when I hear snooty people sneer about it being a place where ‘only punks go.’ Reminds me of Obi-Wan describing Mos Eisley: ‘a wretched hive of scum & villainy.’ That’s us.”

The bar’s décor? A beautiful mess. It started with the first owner’s apartment furniture, grew with flea market finds, and now includes whatever oddities patrons bring in. “A frat house meets a garage sale,” Craig says proudly.

The drinks? Simple. Beer, shots, maybe a Saturday Old Fashioned if Michelle’s behind the bar.

The vibe? Inclusive, as long as you’re not an a-hole.

Music, Memories, and Pearl Jam Wars

Live music is part of The Port’s DNA. Bands usually approach Craig, not the other way around, which has led to unforgettable nights: Zander from The Circle Jerks shredding on stage, Goat & Your Mom blowing minds with their viral hit “Quack Like a Duck.”

Who would Craig’s dream booking be? “Weird Al,” he says without missing a beat.

And then, of course, there’s the ongoing war with Pearl Jam.

Craig doesn’t just dislike them — he despises them.

“Eddie Vedder made me strain my ears, trying to figure out what the hell he was singing. Was it even English? PJ is like a dull, garbled ice pick drilling into my brain stem.”

Naturally, this has become part of The Port’s lore. Play “Rearviewmirror” on the jukebox at your own risk.

The Port’s Place in Kenosha

Ask Craig what The Port means to Kenosha, and he shrugs humbly. He doesn’t claim influence. He just knows what he’s built: a place where punks, outsiders, and anyone with a good attitude can feel at home.

“I hope tourists leave happy, going home and telling people about a bar in a converted house where everyone’s welcome. Act like a jerk, though, and you’re out. Simple as that.”

As for the future? Don’t expect big changes. “The Port will never change,” Craig insists. “In the good way.”

A Legacy in Bronze

Leaving The Port after our conversation, I thought about everything Craig said. About punk shows and Pearl Jam wars. About the Hot Wheels races and inside jokes. About Al Molinaro, smiling with arms crossed, watching over downtown Kenosha.

The Port isn’t just a bar. It’s part of the city’s story. And with Bronze Al on the horizon, that story is about to get bigger.

Craig put it best:

“I just wanted to give Kenosha tourists and natives another highlight to be proud of. It’ll just happen to be in front of my bar.”

And that’s The Port — punk rock heart, local soul, and a whole lot of fun.

This year’s Port Grand Prix is happenings Sunday, September 14th 2025!
Event info here Facebook event – More details click here

Support Bronze Al: GoFundMe link • Visit The Port: theportofkenosha.com • 714 50th Street • Facebook
Learn more about Craig & The Port by listening to his two appearances on the Ktown Connects Podcast
S3 EP23 Craig Pias of The Port • Spotify • Apple • Youtube – released on 12/16/2021
S7 EP4 “Kenosha Conversations’ w/ Craig Pias of The Port & Hill Wozniel of Hill’s Hot Rod Hideout • Spotify • Apple • Youtube  – released on 4/3/2025

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