Established in 2006 Jeff and Joette Barta, native Wisconsonites, bought the Nice Ash in 2006 when the previous owner was wrecking their favorite bar. They wished for some changes to their hangout and felt by purchasing it they could do exactly that. Initially they filled the humidor with top notch smokes and then added craft and imported beers on tap. They more than doubled the size of the Nice Ash in 2009 with an extensive remodel, doubled their draught beer offerings, added more flat screen tvs and put in "the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen in a bar". They installed a circular quartz topped bar and improved their musical offerings since they had a bigger venue to hold the bands.