Chuck Cicerello is perhaps the most prolific owner/ manager of gay bars in Milwaukee's history. He first opened a bar named Neptune Club in about 1968 or 1969. But Chuck became most famous among the gay crowd when he opened The Factory in 1972, which for many years was the largest and most popular gay bar in the city, and is probably its most legendary bar although it closed in 1982. During this time, he also briefly operated a health club/ bath house, Broadway Health Club, on an upper floor from the Factory.

After closing The Factory, Chuck opened two other "Factory" bars: the Factory II in 1982 at 130 E. Juneau; and the Factory 3 opened on North Broadway north of the expressway. While both popular in their day, neither matched the long-term appeal of, and no bar in Milwaukee has ever come close to the legendary status of, the original "The Factory".

Chuck next opened and managed 27th Street Danceteria, in the late 1980s.

From the late 1990's until its closing in autumn 2005, Chuck managed the Club 219. When that bar closed (probably due to extensive condo development in the area making a new lease of the building impractical), rumor was that Chuck was casting about for a new location to open yet another bar. Based on Chuck's history of owning and/or managing gay bars for over 30 years, the safest thing to say about Chuck's story is... To be continued !