It’s time for another Meet the Mayor session, and I’m excited to be holding this one on Saturday at the newly remodeled and expanded Sorce Martial Arts at 926 Milwaukee Ave.
I’ll be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., so stop by, say hi and check out the facility. No topics are off limits.
And here are dates for the next two Meet the Mayor sessions … mark your calendars.
See you Saturday!
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
Congratulations to Sorce Martial Arts, one of three businesses honored at Thursday night’s South Shore Chamber of Commerce first-annual Awards Dinner.
It is a well-deserved honor for Pete Sorce (pictured with me and his wife, Rachel), who shared the story about how he realized a lifelong dream of opening his downtown studio. (Indeed, ask him sometime about how he drew his first construction plans for a studio before he was teenager.)
We’re lucky to have him and his business literally at the crossroads of South Milwaukee. Pete has made more than an investment in his building. He continues to invest in the community — and change lives.
The other two honorees at the banquet at the Pulaski Inn were Greg’s True Value in St. Francis and Angelic Bakehouse in Cudahy. Congratulations to them as well.
Filed under Local Business, South Milwaukee
The renovation and expansion of Sorce Martial Arts are nearly complete … and what better time to celebrate than during Evening on the Avenue?
That’s the plan, as Sorce holds a grand re-opening event from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. From the press release …
The event will be an open house for the community to tour the newly expanded facilities, observe adult and child martial arts classes, meet with instructors and staff and take advantage of enrollment specials. In place of the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be a belt-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. The Grand Re-opening also marks the 10th anniversary of Sorce Martial Arts at their current location at 926 Milwaukee Avenue.
“We’re excited about opening the doors of our new facility and sharing everything that martial arts has to offer our community,” says owner and Master Instructor Pete Sorce. While the expansion has taken more than a year to complete, Sorce says that the process has been worth it. With more than 250 adults and children actively attending classes, he adds, “I wanted to create a special space that models the quality of our programs and not be simply a gym or a toddler playground.”
The lower level of the two-story building, which used to house a pharmacy and small offices covered with aging wood-paneling, mismatched carpeting and very little natural daylight, has been completely transformed into a 6,000 square foot contemporary martial arts school. The expanded space now features two full-sized training rooms, new ample viewing areas for families, a private lesson room and offices, a lounge area, and new bathrooms and changing rooms. The look and feel of the space is natural, contemporary and open.
Sorce says that he spent a lot of time researching options for a larger facility to accommodate the school’s growing student base and additional classes. He considered other existing buildings in the area and new construction, but eventually decided to stay at the existing location and expand the space. Pete and Rachel Sorce purchased the building last May, then started the demolition and remodel immediately. Throughout the process, classes in the front half of the building continued as usual.
Thanks to the Sorces for investing in downtown South Milwaukee. There are certainly strong signs of life in our city center — and that is thanks to passionate and committed business owners like them.
Check out more renovation images from Anthony Sell here.
Filed under Local Business, South Milwaukee
Update: Don’t forget Anytime Fitness, too. There is information in the comments section of this post.
Why not give the gift of good health this holiday season?
My 2012 12 Days post talks about some of the local options, including Sorce Martial Arts, Anchor Fitness and Dowling Community Acupuncture. I’ll add a few more to that list …
In other words, there are lots of local choices for those focused on wellness in 2014. Take advantage of them.
We need more businesses like Sorce Martial Arts in downtown South Milwaukee.
The studio has announced an expansion and remodeling project made possible by the Sorces purchasing the building they call home at 926 Milwaukee Ave. Learn more in this news release, and on the studio’s Facebook page.
From the release …
Sorce Martial Arts opened its doors in 2004 with about 1,600 square feet of training space and 50 students. In 2007, the school grew to more than 120 students and was expanded to approximately 3,300 square feet. The latest expansion will nearly double the training space to serve the school’s current enrollment of approximately 220 students, two full-time and three part-time employees. Completion of the renovation is expected later this year.
Thanks to the Sorces for choosing to expand in South Milwaukee, and let’s hope they have many more years of success at 10th and Milwaukee Avenues.
Filed under Development, Local Business, South Milwaukee
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 🙂
Filed under 12 Days of South Milwaukee Christmas, Local Business
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