WAUKESHA - D.C. Lawler of Mad Steintist in Waukesha may be new to owning a bar, but he isn't new to the business or the Milwaukee area.

Lawler grew up in Elm Grove and graduated from Marquette University High School in 1980. He got his first bartending gig at Fried Eggs and Tootsie's, which is where he met his wife of 30 years, Barb. 

"I was the youngest of eight, and always had to be a part of the excitement," he said. "I think that's what drove me into this business."

Because of his love for music and sports, he decided to go to school for broadcasting. He moved to Minneapolis to attend Brown College in Mendota Heights and DJ'd at clubs on the side. He earned his associates degree in broadcasting in 1988. 

There was just one small problem. He couldn't get himself to leave the bar business. 

"I got caught in the whole bar thing, and here I am 30 years later," he said. "It doesn't let you go too easily."

He DJ'd clubs, bartended and managed over a dozen establishments in the Minneapolis area. "I've always enjoyed music and helping people have fun," he said. 

When Lawler's brother, Mark Lawler, told him him the space on the corner of Madison Street and St. Paul Avenue in Waukesha was available, he decided to move back to open his own place and be closer to family. 

"Family is everything," he said. "The older you get, the more you realize that." 

Lawler's siblings and two high school friends helped him revamp the bar by changing the color scheme, installing stone walls and adding new lighting fixtures before its grand opening in March 2017. 

The name Mad Steintist came from the "Mad" in Madison Street and the "St" in St. Paul Avenue. "I have that punny sense of humor," Lawler said. 

"When the name hit me, I was like 'I can run with it,'" he said. The bar has six specialty drinks called "Mad Concoctions," which are served in beakers and named after elements of sci-fi movies. 

One of the bartenders who developed the drinks is Jeralyn Beese of Waterford. She created the "1.21 Gigawatter," which references "Back to the Future," and "It's...Invisible Man!," after "The Invisible Man."

"It's fun to just make something," she said. "I love seeing people's faces when they try it."

"It's...Invisible Man!" is made up of tequila, sour apple, lime juice, lemon-lime soda and mint leaves. Each "Mad Concoction" costs $7, and $6 at 11 p.m. 

In addition to "Mad Concoctions," the bar has 24 beers on tap, Luigi's Pizza and cheesy garlic bread. Lawler said he plans to lease the kitchen in the future. 

Since the bar is down the street from the fire department, every time a firetruck goes by, the bar features $3 Fireball shots. He said he plans to give $1 from each shot to the department. 

Starting Jan. 1, the bar will begin "Mad Stein University." Patrons can earn a bachelor's or master's of steince, or a doctorate of beer by going through the rotation of beers. "Each rotation signifies a year of college," he said. When someone earns their degree in "mad concoctionality," their diploma will hang on the bar's wall, and they get to take one home. 

Lawler spends about 70 to 80 hours a week at the bar. 

The only two weekends he has taken off since the bar opened was to travel to Atlanta and Chicago to see the rock band Yes, which he has seen 75 times. He started going to their shows at 14 in Milwaukee. "Something about them just hit me, and to this day, I still love them," he said. 

The bar hosts their own live shows with local and tribute bands from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays with no cover charge. There's a top 40 DJ Saturday, karaoke Tuesdays and throwback tunes on Thursdays. 

The bar is typically closed on Sundays and Mondays, but not during Packers games. The bar opens an hour before game time, and at halftime, they give away a free tailgate party with eight beers, pizza and the best seats for the following week's game. They also offers $1 off beer during the game.

"We just try to have something fun going on all the time," he said. 

The bar will have a holiday party at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 with live music from TNTS Project, an ugly sweater contest with gift certificate prizes and Christmas drink specials. 

PRICE RANGE: $3 for a can of Hamm's to $13 for Grand Marnier on the rocks

HOURS: 3 p.m. to midnight Tuesday and Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday