Just a reminder … see you in 12 days for “Annie”!
Category Archives: Downtown
Downtown Update: Nona’s Closing, Residential Facility Planned, New Business And More
Beyond Caterpillar, some disappointing news downtown – Nona’s Café is closing.
Tom and Ida have announced their restaurant’s last day is this Saturday, May 16.
I wish nothing but the best for them, and thank them for being such a special part of our downtown, and our community. I’ll miss them, their hospitality and (of course) their food – all of it terrific.
Please stop by and wish them well in their final days in the restaurant business.
Meanwhile, in other downtown news …
- A 16-unit community based residential facility has been proposed for the former Easter Seals (and Bucyrus engineering) building at 1016 Milwaukee Ave. A public hearing on the zoning change necessary for the development has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, in front of the South Milwaukee City Council. The development, which would be called the Glenneyre, would be considered a Class C non-ambulatory facility, so it can house a person who is either unable to walk or able to walk with the help of a wheelchair or other device. The facility will be an option for seniors and others needing up to an intermediate level of nursing care, “able to accommodate a person who has a long-term illness or disability but who has reached a relatively stable condition,” according to the plan submittal. It will employ about 10 people, with 24-hour staffing for residents and parking for visitors in the adjacent lot and another lot at 1008 Milwaukee (also part of the property).
- Two new businesses have opened in the 1200 block of Milwaukee – This & That, a discount variety store, and across the street, J.C.’s Produce. See my previous post on these businesses here. Also, Grandma’s Attic, an antiques and collectibles store at 916 Milwaukee, opened recently. Be sure to check them all out and welcome them to town!
- You have also probably noticed some improvements to the site of the former city water tower in the 1200 block of Milwaukee. The city repaired the steps, touched up the decorative stone wall, added water service to the site and began preparing the site for new plantings. We’re also putting a new “for sale” sign up. They are small, but necessary improvements to a site that had become an eyesore for the downtown area. We’re also fixing the fascia under the bridge over Oak Creek on Milwaukee Avenue — a cosmetic improvement, but a necessary one. This is an key entry point for our downtown area.
Filed under Downtown, South Milwaukee
Planning For The City’s, And Downtown’s, Promising Future
With a renewed focus on business retention, recruitment, events, marketing and other efforts, we’re working hard every day to bring new life to our city, and city center.
We’re also building the foundation for long-term economic development success. A key part of that: our comprehensive and downtown plans, which took major steps forward this week.
The South Milwaukee City Council voted unanimously to approve the selection of Graef as the consulting firm for updating our comprehensive plan and building a separate downtown plan.
We interviewed two firms for the work, and, as part of the committee making the recommendation, I can say it was a very tough call. Both Vandewalle and Graef are terrific firms that would do a great job on these plans.
Graef brings strong experience, creativity, vision and a demonstrated commitment to implementing the plans they lead. For this effort, they also bring a partnership with Business Districts Inc., a firm focused on downtown revitalization that will only add to our plan and process.
You can see their joint proposal here.
Now the work begins. The planning effort will pick up quickly, and be substantially wrapped up by the end of the year. Then we get to work on bringing the plan to life – not letting it sit on a shelf and collect dust like so many others in the past.
Have a plan, work the plan. We will work this plan.
My ask: Look for ways to be part of the process, and actually be a part of it. There will be plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard as we build this roadmap for the future of South Milwaukee and our downtown.
Join us!
Filed under Downtown, South Milwaukee
Food, Music And Baseball: Big Weekend In South Milwaukee!
Update: Added item on the St. Luke’s UCC Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday.
It’s weekends like this that make South Milwaukee special.
Here are three big events happening Friday through Sunday in our fair city …
- Friday: South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center 10th Anniversary Gala. A terrific evening of entertainment, celebrating a decade of this community treasure. Dozens of performers means there is something for everyone. The event starts at 6 p.m. with a pre-show social featuring some of the acts in the lobby, refreshments and hors d’ oeuvres. Get a full list of performers and learn more here.
- Saturday: South Milwaukee Little League Opening Day. This day is another thing pretty unique to South Milwaukee. It starts with a parade down Milwaukee and 9th Avenues, starting at Papa Luigi’s and ending at Little League Park, where there will be ceremonies before the opening slate of games. Parade at noon, opening ceremonies at 1, games start at 1:45. See a schedule here. Also on Saturday is this St. Luke’s UCC Spaghetti Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2200 18th Ave. They are featuring chef-prepared spaghetti sauce and entertainment. Adults $7, children 11 and under $4.
- Sunday: South Milwaukee Food Truck Carnival. Some of the area’s top food trucks pay a visit to downtown South Milwaukee for a first-ever event for our city. Live music by Water Street Bridge is also planned. Noon to 4 p.m. on 11th Avenue, south of Milwaukee Avenue. Thanks to the Milwaukee Food Truck Alliance and the award-winning Streetza Pizza – owned by South Milwaukeean Scott Baitinger – for bringing this event to our city, and for Educators Credit Union for stepping up as a sponsor just today.
See you this weekend!
Check out media coverage on the Food Truck Carnival from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and OnMilwaukee.com. You may also see a TV station or two on site on Sunday. This will be big. How big? More than 1,500 people have said they are going on just the Streetza Facebook invite alone.
Filed under Downtown, Events, South Milwaukee
Here Are More Details On The South Milwaukee Food Truck Carnival
I’m not sure South Milwaukee has ever seen something like this. And I love it.
See you Sunday, May 3!
Print the flyer here.
Filed under Downtown, Events, South Milwaukee
Bringing Downtown South Milwaukee History To Life
How about one more cool downtown event this summer?
It’s the South Milwaukee Historical Society Downtown Walking Tour starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.
From local historian Nels Monson, who is leading it …
Lace up your walking shoes and join us on Saturday June 20 for a walking tour of Downtown South Milwaukee led by City Historian Nels Monson.
Tour starts at the Railroad Depot and is expected to last about two hours.
Cost is $5 per person. Children under 12 and seniors over 80 are FREE. All proceeds benefit the South Milwaukee Historical Society.
I’ve added this to the full list of downtown events. Mark your calendars!
Filed under Downtown, South Milwaukee
What’s Showing This Summer: Outdoor Movies (And Dinner)
Update: Here is a list of participating restaurants for the first “Dinner and a Movie”: Azteca, China Chef, Barbiere’s, Muskie’s Gourmet House and MKE City Sippers. Be sure to patronize these local businesses!
Thanks again to Guardian Credit Union for stepping up to sponsor three outdoor movies downtown again this summer.
They’ve announced the movies they’ll be showing … and we’ve added a twist. We’re now calling the event being held on the three Fridays in June, July and August “Dinner and a Movie,” and we’re bringing local restaurants into the fold.
It’s easy: Take advantage of movie-night specials at a number of local eateries prior to the outdoor movies, and then swing by the farmers’ market site on 11th and Madison for the flicks.
This way, you can support a local business and enjoy a great downtown event, too. Sounds like a date night!
Check out the movie schedule in the image and in this flyer.
The early list of participating restaurants includes Azteca, China Chef, Barbiere’s and Nona’s Café. Look for a full list at http://www.guardiancu.org as the event approaches.
And a special thanks to Heidi Bontempo from Guardian and Joey Bukowski for their continued work on planning this fun event. This could not happen without them.
Filed under Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Downtown Alive: Check Out This Events Lineup
Updated on April 22 to add the Downtown History Walk. Updated on April 21 with sponsors for the market concerts and the correct date for the Heritage Days Parade.
There’s a lot happening in our city center this summer and fall. A lot. So, we figured, why not round it up?
It starts with the first weekend of May, with the South Milwaukee Little League Parade on Saturday, May 2, and the first-ever Food Truck Festival the next day, and continues with a summer of shopping, music, outdoor movies and more.
Yes, we’re bringing new life downtown. This flyer is proof.
Filed under Downtown, South Milwaukee
Introducing … The South Milwaukee Food Truck Festival!
Another cool new event for our city … and it’s coming up quickly.
The area’s top food trucks are planning a stop in downtown South Milwaukee.
I’m excited to announce the first-ever South Milwaukee Food Truck Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Food Truck Alliance. The event — planned for noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, on 11th and Milwaukee Avenues, site of the farmers’ market — will feature a number of the area’s top trucks and live music throughout the afternoon.
Already committed to attend: Streetza Pizza, Gouda Girls, Eats & Treats, Meat on the Street, Simmer, and Hattie’s, with more to come.
The event will go before the city council for formal approval this Tuesday.
Mark your calendars, save your appetite, and help me spread the word.
This will be a huge hit. Besides great food, these trucks have huge followings and fans from across the area that have yet to discover our fair city. We’re expecting there will good spillover business to our existing downtown stores.
And this is just the start to our downtown summer. From this to the farmers’ market to the return to the outdoor movies to Evening on the Avenue to the Heritage Days Parade — and more — downtown South Milwaukee will be hopping in 2015.
Look for a full list of downtown events coming soon.
One more note: To get a sense of how big these food trucks are and the reach they have, consider the award-winning Streetza Pizza. Owned by South Milwaukee resident Scott Baitinger, it has 12,500 Twitter followers. And that’s just one truck.
Filed under Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
New Business Updates
Lots of new business momentum these days in South Milwaukee …
- First, Nomi Coffee is now open. For now, it’s coffee and baked goods, but there are plans for fuller breakfast and lunch options. Temporary hours are Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Two new businesses are coming to the 1200 block of Milwaukee Avenue downtown. JC’s Produce, expected to open this week, is a convenience store with a focus on fresh produce (and no alcohol). It’s located in the former liquor store building at 1232 Milwaukee Ave. Across the street is This & That, a discount variety store. It will open in a few weeks.
- Also, Hidden Treasures, a collectibles store, has opened in the 1000 block of Milwaukee Ave.
Let’s welcome all of these new businesses to town!
Filed under Development, Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Big Moves For Downtown’s Future (And Economic Development Overall)
It’s been a good couple of weeks for the outlook of downtown South Milwaukee — the entire city, for that matter.
A quick recap …
- The nine-member Downtown Advisory Committee has begun meeting. They are working on establishing a firm mission, vision and strategy for the committee — and beginning to work on tackling the key issues facing our city center. It’s a formalized voice we’ve lacked in this debate for a long time. Too long.
- We’re moving ahead on our comprehensive plan and downtown plan updates. At its meeting two weeks ago, the city council formally directed our city engineer to prepare and put out a request for proposals to planning firms. Proposals will be due by April 9, and we’re asking that the plans be substantially complete by the end of the year. What are we looking for? The Plan Commission and the downtown committee jointly met earlier this month to discuss the details of the RFP. It was a great discussion. One key part: We must value creativity in this process, look for firms that can bring us new ideas and fresh approaches to our city and downtown, concepts that we can put into practice for short-, medium and long-term success. I can’t wait to start.
- Also, we have hired a new economic development coordinator. Robin Grams starts Monday, March 23. He has a passion for economic development and the skills, training and personality to make a real difference. Robin has a master’s degree in public administration (emphasis on urban planning and management) from Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, where he also worked as a planning intern for the City of Indianapolis. He also studied history and urban and regional studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and was a member of its NCAA Division I swim team. I’m confident he’ll do a great job in serving as our point person for business recruitment and retention across the city. He’ll also play a significant role in working with the downtown committee in developing the downtown plan, and he’ll work closely with our Community Development Authority in marketing our tax incremental financing district properties.
All of these efforts — the formation of the downtown committee, development of the plan, and hiring of dedicated economic development support — are key building blocks we need for South Milwaukee’s future.
I’m excited to see this foundational work come alive. It will make a real difference, for the long term, this as we continue to work hard to attract new businesses and other development to our city center every day.
Momentum continues to build. I hope you feel it.
Filed under Development, Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Clearing A Path Downtown
With five-foot snowbanks separating parked cars from our local merchants, I know it’s hard to navigate downtown South Milwaukee these days. The city is going to help.
You may have noticed “no parking” signs go up in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Milwaukee Avenue on Friday. That is because city crews are planning to clean up the parking lanes up to the curb and remove some of the snow between the sidewalk and curb on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Then, time and manpower permitting, we will continue into the 800, 1100 and 1200 blocks of Milwaukee and finally to the two blocks of 10th Avenue south of Milwaukee.
We are doing this to make access to downtown businesses safer and easier. We ask for your patience during this process.
For now, keep this in mind …
- Between 7 a.m. 3 p.m. on Monday, there is no parking on the north side of Milwaukee Avenue between Ninth and 11th Avenues.
- Between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, there is no parking on the south side of those blocks.
Please patronize our local businesses all year long!
Filed under Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Coming Soon To Downtown: JB’s Tee Shirt Factory
I’m really excited about the latest business to call downtown South Milwaukee home — another good example of a destination retail store that I’m hoping we become famous for.
It’s JB’s Tee Shirt Factory, which provides screen-printed, embroidered and other apparel for sports teams — including colleges like UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and Cardinal Stritch — and other groups. It also has some cool designer t-shirts they will be selling at the South Milwaukee location, 1233 Milwaukee Ave., their first retail store.
They also have an operation in Muskego.
I met Jason and Aaron on Thursday night, and they are making some significant upgrades to the store. They hope to open next week.
Please join me in welcoming them to South Milwaukee … and shop local!
Filed under Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
New Citgo Station Opening By End Of February
I’m excited to see another new business coming to South Milwaukee, an investment in our downtown area to rehabilitate a dilapidated building …
The latest example: the new Citgo station opening at 10th and Manitoba. I spoke to the owners — who also operate several gas stations in Appleton — and they expect to be open by the end of February.
The new signage went up last week, and it’s already a big improvement. Welcome to South Milwaukee!
Filed under Development, Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Nomi: New Life For The Former A&W
No doubt you have noticed some of the changes happening at the former A&W at 513 N. Chicago Ave.
The rotted canopies over the parking spaces are gone, and there is a fresh coat of paint, but that’s just the start.
The new owners of the building are Marko and Athina Tase, (pictured above). Along with their son, Aldo, they are planning to open a specialty coffee house, also serving specialty bakery and breakfast sandwiches. It will feature Valentine Coffee, an upscale coffee roaster based on Milwaukee’s west side. It will be named Nomi.
They hope to open in the next month, so stay tuned for more details.
And welcome to South Milwaukee, the Tases!
Filed under Development, Downtown, Local Business, South Milwaukee
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