Brady Street’s New Qdoba
Chain restaurant will open in new building that fits the eclectic street.
1348 E. Brady St. Rendering
Construction is underway on a two-story building at 1348 E. Brady St that will house a Qdoba Mexican Grill. The building will replace a long vacant lot at the corner of E. Brady St. and N. Warren Ave.
A representative from Roaring Fork Restaurant Group, the Wisconsin franchisee for Qdoba, noted they hope to open the new restaurant in January of 2017. The firm closed their Lower East Side location at 2228 N. Prospect Ave. on September 11th to make way for The Contour, a new apartment building planned for the site. All affected employees found employment at other Qdoba locations.
A permit for new construction was pulled on August 22nd, but the site sat idle until the past few weeks. The building will be owned by PH 1348 Brady Street LLC, which lists Roaring Fork Restaurant Group owner Michael Pranke as its registered agent. According to the permit, construction costs are estimated at $489,000.
The design of the building was approved by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 14th, 2016. The building was required to obtain special design approval because of its location within the Brady Street Historic District. The restaurant is being designed and constructed by Waukesha-based The Redmond Company.
Customers will find a partial upper level complete with 12 seat balcony and 32 seat mezzanine area. The rear of the second level will be open to the first floor. The first floor will include 40 seats, as well as restrooms, the kitchen and other service areas.
A two-story building formerly occupied the site, but was demolished in the early 1990’s. The site has been most recently used by vendors during large Brady St. events, and as a cut-through for employees of the adjacent Jimmy John’s restaurant.
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This is great infill! I once worked at the Jimmy Johns and always thought that lot needed something decent-sized. PErfect design to complement the area as well!
This is what happens when you don’t pay for thoughtful design. Low quality faux-historicism, with a chain restaurant to boot. Ouch.
Well, I for one am relieved that I won’t have to wait in line behind Chris.
Oh good! Another chain restaurant on our beloved Brady Street.
Yuck.
Well as they say,” there goes the neighborhood.”
The building itself doesn’t look to me like they’re trying to be some sort of faux historical design… Instead it seems like it is what it should be, simple, unobtrusive, and quality. This way it doesn’t take away from the historical nature while also avoiding trying too hard to fit in (and ending up with that faux historical look Chris is so worried about).
As for having a chain on Brady… well… it’s nice to have options? It’s a neighborhood after all.
“Beloved Brady Street” Buahahahaha
I wouldn’t mind a new chain in the neighborhood if it wasn’t taco bell on steroids. My family and I will still make the trek down to Ogden when our budget is tight and we are truly desperate for fast food burritos.
The burrito market must be great in Milwaukee. A healthy neighborhood has both local and chain, historic and modern, and space to grow. Imagine one of those “modern” Panda Expresses going there? In contrast, this design is safer. Boring? Yeah. Hopefully they will use a handsome brick. At the least, I bet the balcony will be a hit. And… if Qdoba moved out, the building looks like it might be adaptable to other businesses.