Good City Brewing Tapped for Bucks’ Live Block

The Milwaukee Bucks have announced the first tenant for the Live Block entertainment center. Milwaukee-based Good City Brewing will anchor the complex, located just across the plaza from the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center.

The fast-growing brewery will operate an 11,000-square-feet brewery and two-story taproom at the north end of the Live Block complex along W. Juneau Ave.

The company will continue to operate their brewery and restaurant on the Lower East Side at 2108 N. Farwell Ave. Good City opened in that space in 2016 and at this time last year added an event space and rooftop deck. “You can get a lot done in two years if you work hard,” stated Good City co-founder Dan Katt.

And while Good City can increasingly be found on tap at bars and on liquor store shelves, the taproom will focus on selling beers not found at other nearby bars said Katt. “What we really love about this entire concept is exactly what Good City wants to bring forth, and that is not just something that celebrates their local brews, but also celebrating all of Wisconsin taps and Wisconsin’s rich brewing history,” said Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry.

Good City’s Live Block space won’t be just for show. The company intends to use the space to brew sour and small-batch beers. The brewery needs a dedicated space to brew sour beers because of the unique yeast cultures used.

“It’s in some ways a no-brainer for us, and in other ways incredibly complex,” said Katt. Good City was founded by Andy Jones, David Dupee and Katt. The first floor will include a 24 taps and a wood-fired oven kitchen led by brewery chef Guy Davies. The second floor will include an event space and outdoor patio seating. Combined capacity is 550.

The brewery, which has a seven-year lease, is intended to open in early spring along with the rest of the Live Block. The arena, for which a naming rights partner has yet to be announced, is scheduled to open later this summer.

As part of the arena financing package, the Bucks pledged to have 25 percent of the space in the entertainment block be leased to local firms. Today’s Good City announcement puts a healthy way towards meeting that mark, Good City’s lease represents approximately 14 percent of the approximately 76,000-square-foot complex.

The Bucks updated the design of the block in late 2017.

Additional tenants for the entertainment center have yet to be announced. Punch Bowl Social, a national chain which bills itself as providing “eatertainment,” lists Milwaukee as a city they’re expanding to in 2019 on their website. News of the company’s likely arrival near the arena was first reported by the BizTimes. The company’s website shows images of bowling, karaoke, foosball and pinball all happening at their various locations.

The Bucks recently secured approval for a small, two-tenant building to be constructed in the connecting parcel that will link the arena and entertainment center to N. Old World Third St.

Good City’s new brewery will be designed by Kahler Slater. Rinka Chung Architecture and Gensler are designing the Live Block.

General contracting on the Live Block is being led by Hunzinger Construction. Blair Williams of WiRED Properties is consulting with the Bucks on the development of the entertainment center.

The arena itself is 95 percent complete. See photos of the arena bowl, club level, lobby and locker rooms from our latest tour.

Live Block Renderings

Good City Renderings

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