Category Archives: Local Business

by | January 25, 2013 · 7:15 am

New Look For South Milwaukee McDonald’s?

The South Milwaukee McDonald’s might be getting a facelift.

Representatives from the fast-food restaurant at 2715 S. Chicago Ave. are set to go before the South Milwaukee Plan Commission at its meeting on Monday seeking an amendment to the restaurant’s conditional use permit. The project includes an “exterior remodel, cash booth addition, revised drive-thru layout, and interior remodel,” according to the meeting agenda.

I’ll keep you posted when I learn more. The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the Common Council chambers.

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by | January 22, 2013 · 4:18 pm

Downtown Loses Ooh La La

I was sorry to see the Ooh La La Beauty Boutique close recently.

The salon at 1017 Milwaukee Ave. opened in 2004, according to its still-functioning website.

Renovation work on the cool space was still ongoing as of Saturday, and I’ll keep you posted as to who the next tenant will be.

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by | January 11, 2013 · 7:24 pm

Farewell, Dunham’s

Update: Here is a Cudahy NOW story on this.

What the heck is happening to Packard Plaza?

The once-venerable Cudahy shopping center — which has already lost Aldi in the past year or so and is facing the closure of Merchandise Outlet — is about to lose another significant retailer: Dunham’s Sporting Goods.

I confirmed the closure today. I posted a message on their Facebook page, and I got this response …

Yes, our Cudahy location is closing. However, please note that we do have a store in Franklin that is less than 6 miles away (http://www.dunhamssports.com/store-map/) from Cudahy.

This one hurts. Dunham’s is the only business of its kind on the South Shore, and it’s a favorite destination of mine for sporting goods for me and the kids. From batting gloves for Christian to fishing gear for me, our family shops there often.

I’d like to know what you think about the demise of Packard Plaza, and Dunham’s. Remember Gimbels? Post your comments below!

(FYI: Merchandise Outlet is in its “final days,” according to its website.)

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by | January 9, 2013 · 9:54 pm

Celebrating A Terrific Local Caterer

Fox 6 stopped by Emerald City Catering in South Milwaukee today.

Check out the video clips here … and learn more about this great local business, and owner Steve Ozbolt.

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by | December 19, 2012 · 12:05 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Local Eats

I close the “12 Days” series with a focus on area eateries, and there are plenty of terrific options to write about.

Here are a few of my favorites, in case you’re looking to give the gift of great food this holiday season …

  • The Azteca Restaurant, 901 Milwaukee Ave. My favorite Milwaukee-area Mexican restaurant, bar none. Try their lunch buffet, new Sunday brunch, crab legs or any of  a variety of outstanding authentic specialties. And their Mexican fried ice cream is … well, try it and see! Say hi to Carlos and Rosie for me, and be sure to look for discounts on their website and Facebook.
  • China Chef, 1224 Milwaukee Ave. Their website encourages you to “let the food talk.” It tells a great story.
  • Nona’s Cafe, 2206 10th Ave. Great homemade food and baked goods, made with love by Ida and Tom. This OnMilwaukee.com article tells the story of the ultimate “mom and pop business” well.
  • Our great local Italian restaurants. We have a big selection, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. Salvatore’s/Papa Luigi’s II, 1919 12th Ave., has great food, and the upgrades to the facility (bowling, arcade, etc.) make it a real community attraction. I think the garlic bread at Barbiere’s, 1021 Milwaukee, is the best around. Paisano’s, 113 N. Chicago Ave., has a varied menu full of tasty items.
  • Emerald City Catering, 1645 Rawson Ave. The area’s best caterer. We love their takeout fish and fried chicken, and their take-and-bake items (try the chicken pot pie) are other outstanding options. And pick up a bottle of Steve’s barbecue sauce when you’re there.

I also want to give a shoutout to PJ.’s Variety Store & Deli, 921 Milwaukee Ave. This is a really unique store with everything from farm-fresh eggs to Yu-Gi-Oh! cards to crafts. Tony also has baked ham and rolls on Sundays, cheesburgers and other items. And be sure to check out his “old school” candy selection. Variety store, indeed.

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by | December 17, 2012 · 10:59 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Physical Fitness And Health

Tired of chasing the newest toy for your kids each Christmas?

Here’s an idea: Give a “powerful and effective path toward personal growth and development.” Give the gift of martial arts.

We’re lucky to have an outstanding school — one for both adults and kids — right here in South Milwaukee: Sorce Martial Arts.

Check out their website. From it:

Sorce Martial Arts was established to make a positive and lasting impact in our community by teaching personal development through martial arts. We believe that training in the martial arts is a powerful and effective path toward personal growth and development. We believe that martial arts instruction should be personal. Finding a school that is a good fit for you is important because a great instructor will help you to benefit more from martial arts than you ever imagined.

I’ve seen this benefit first-hand. My cousin is a longtime Sorce student — and now instructor — and he is one of the most mature 16-year-olds I have ever met (including me). There are countless others like him that have gone through Peter Sorce’s classes.

Sorce is located at 926 Milwaukee Ave. There are two other businesses down the block that also need a shoutut here.

Anchor Fitness is next door at 924 Milwaukee Ave., and Dowling Community Accupuncture is at 911 Milwaukee Ave. If you’re looking to get or stay fit, these are two places to visit. Maybe I should pay them a visit 🙂

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by | December 16, 2012 · 1:40 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Local Beer

Updated: Added a couple stores I missed.

I work for MillerCoors, so my friends, neighbors and relatives know very well that beer makes a wonderful Christmas gift.

(I suppose wine and spirits do, too, but you didn’t hear that from me :))

There are lots of local options to buy alcohol, but I’ll give a shoutout to six local liquor stores …

  • Bully’s Discount Beverage Center, 1232 Milwaukee Ave.
  • King’s Row, 1202 Milwaukee Ave.
  • Chicago Avenue Liquor, 309 N. Chicago Ave.
  • Marquette Liquor, 1123 Marquette Ave.
  • G&K Liquor, 1508 Rawson Ave.
  • B J Liquor Store, 2411 5th Ave.

And here’s a few holiday suggestions, with a nod to MillerCoors …

  • Coors Light and Miller Lite. You can’t go wrong with the two best-tasting Premium Light beer brands in the country.
  • Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter. This new winter seasonal is really, really good.
  • Crispin cider. Our recently acquired craft cider company has a number of terrific fresh-pressed apple and pear varieties.

Merry Christmas … cheers!

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by | December 9, 2012 · 5:41 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Parkway Floral

Time for a shoutout to my favorite local florist, Parkway Floral.

Bryan Lorentzen and team do a great job, whether it’s roses for the missus or an arrangement for my wife’s grandmother’s recent funeral, these guys are first class, and reasonably priced.

For the holidays, they have some beautiful arrangements on their website and other special items in store.

You have lots of options to buy flowers these days, from Pick ‘n Save to the local gas station. Join me in shopping one of our treasured local independent retailers — one of our downtown anchor businesses — instead.

Parkway Floral

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by | December 5, 2012 · 4:53 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Donn Powers Jeweler

In the market for jewelry this Christmas? You have lots of choices.

I encourage you to choose local.

From diamonds to colored stones, watches to chains, charm bracelets to decorative handbags, Donn Powers Jeweler is a full-service jeweler, and more. He’s also a master watchmaker, and he does repairs on-premise.

And by “he,” I do mean “he.” One thing I love about Donn Powers — unlike the mall big guys and others — is that there’s a good chance you’ll find Donn at the store greeting customers or working behind the scenes, if he’s not in Belgium picking out diamonds, that is.

This downtown anchor business says it best on their website …

This is where dreams become reality.  Here at Donn Powers Jeweler, we have been making dreams come true for over 30 years and we pride ourselves on knowledge and customer service. 

If you are in need of a repair, or would like something custom designed, you have come to the right place. We work with you to make sure you receive exactly what you want. You are the architect, we are the contractor.

Trust this contractor to deliver a great experience.

Donn Powers Jeweler

  • Location: 2110 10th Ave.
  • Phone: 762-2106
  • On the web: http://www.donnpowersjeweler.com/

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by | December 2, 2012 · 10:45 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Local Chains (Especially Ace Hardware)

Shopping local is about more than shopping at independent retailers. Chains can be part of your holiday plans, too.

In South Milwaukee, my favorite is Ace Hardware. “The helpful place” is always just that — helpful, and I find their prices reasonable.

Could I save a few bucks by going to one of the big guys on 27th Street? Occasionally. Can I get a better selection? Perhaps on some items. But when you factor in convenience and the friendliness and expertise of the people working the floor — someone is always there to help you through a project, often an owner — Ace is more often than not a huge bargain.

The Brooks family also shops from time to time at Pick ‘n Save, Aldi, Walgreens, Dollar General and others, not to mention any number of chains in Oak Creek, and they are all fine stores. But Ace is my favorite.

Ace Hardware

  • Location: 1009 Marquette Ave.
  • Phone: 762-8250
  • On the web: click here.

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by | November 30, 2012 · 6:04 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Sports Collectibles On Milwaukee Avenue

Some swear by Jimmie Johnson. Others love Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. Tony Stewart has his share of fans.

We’re a Brad Keselowski house.

As an employee at MillerCoors, I guess I better root for Brad, and our family sure does. My 8-year-old is his biggest fan, which makes Brad’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship — clinched earlier this month — so sweet.

I say this because there is a unique business in South Milwaukee that allows us to celebrate our love of NASCAR (and Brad) every day. It’s Green Flag Racing, and it’s a really cool NASCAR collectibles store at 1218 Milwaukee Ave. downtown.

Diecast cars, clothing, signage and more … the store has everything for the NASCAR fan, no matter who you root for.

Then, when you’re done at Green Flag Racing, walk a few blocks and stop at Hometown Sports Cards, 916 Milwaukee Ave. I stopped by this new store recently and was impressed with its selection of sports cards and other collectibles. It’s worth a visit if you have a sports fan on your list.

Green Flag Racing

  • Location: 1218 Milwaukee Ave.
  • Phone: 764-6848

Hometown Sports Cards

  • Location: 916 Milwaukee Ave.
  • Phone: 394-5478
  • On the web: http://www.hometownsportscards.net/

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by | November 30, 2012 · 5:42 pm

Report: Prime Table Reopens

“The restaurant was shut down Tuesday after a customer complained of a cockroach in the food. The Health Department suspended the restaurant’s license and performed inspections all week,” according to this story from WISN.

Apparently, those inspections came back clean.

Still, ick.

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by | November 28, 2012 · 11:12 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: South Milwaukee Christmas Market

Next up on the list of recommended local shopping options this holiday season: the South Milwaukee Christmas Market.

The popular event is back for a third year – this time at a new location.

The indoor winter version of the farmers’ market is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at South Milwaukee High School. It will feature dozens of market vendors – and some new faces – selling arts, crafts, organics, baked goods and other specialty items.

Live Christmas music from local acts and students is also planned throughout the market, and the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is presenting Gypsy Geoff, who will roam the crowd and do special performances at noon and 1 p.m.

Learn more in the press release, and merry Christmas from the South Milwaukee Downtown Market!

South Milwaukee Christmas Market

  • When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8
  • Location: South Milwaukee High School, 801 15th Ave.
  • On the web: http://www.smdowntownmarket.org/

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by | November 27, 2012 · 7:29 pm

Cockroach In The Soup? Oak Creek’s Prime Table Restaurant Reportedly Closed

Ick.

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by | November 26, 2012 · 9:30 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center

Shop local this Christmas season … and why not give the gift of performance art?

I write a lot about the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, and with a first-class director and a strong lineup of performances, the center is worth the digital ink.

If you haven’t checked it out yet — and shows like Friday’s performance by the Vienna Boys Choir — you are missing out. And if you have, why not spread the word about the PAC with some stocking-stuffer gift certificates?

Some upcoming performances of note: the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 6, the Cantare Chorale on Dec. 8 and the Grant Park Players (presenting “Christmas Belles”) on Dec. 14-15 and 21-22.

Then there is the SMPAC’s Performing Arts Series, which resumes in January with Avner Eisenberg.

South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center

  • Location: 901 15th Ave.
  • Phone: 766-5049
  • On the web: http://www.southmilwaukeepac.org/index.htm

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