Mooby’s Film Fantasy Diner Comes to Town

Director Kevin Smith, known for his Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob films, is bringing a pop-up based on his movies to Milwaukee. Mooby’s, a fictional fast-food restaurant that is recurring in the films, will make its Milwaukee debut at Up-Down Milwaukee, the arcade bar on Brady St. According to a press release, Mooby’s will occupy the second floor of the bar, and will require reservations. Tickets can be purchased for $29 on Mooby’s website.

Guests will receive a “Mooby’s Pick-up Experience,” which will feature their choice of a regular or vegan Cow Tipper Burger, Cock Smoker Chicken Sandwich, vegan Cow Dong Brat or a regular or vegan Egga Mooby Muffin. These options come paired with a Salt Lick Side featuring the Hater Totz, Cheese Curds or Onion Rings.

Good City Brewing has collaborated with the pop-up to brew a Mooby’s beer. Other add-ons include cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and a Mooby’s soda.

While waiting for your food, photo opportunities themed around the world of Smith’s movies will be set up. There will also be a Jay and Silent Bob-themed merchandise shop.

After eating, guests can hang out on Up-Down’s first floor. The pop-up will run from June 7-14.

Bubble Tea Cafe Gets Second Location

A local bubble tea cafe will join Sports Plus LLC and Goldfish Swim School as new tenants at the Bayshore mall in Glendale. SereniTea’s first location opened in 2019 at 1313 W. Wells St. on Marquette University’s campus, and this second location is expected to open this summer. Maredithe Meyer reports:

SereniTea serves a variety of tea-based drinks, including its signature bubble, or ‘boba’, tea – a Taiwanese drink that includes freshly brewed tea, milk and chewy tapioca balls, known as pearls. Its menu also includes fruit teas, smoothies, shakes and slushies.

“Our mission is to introduce Milwaukee to the splendor of bubble tea,” said owner Manpreet Singh. “We are excited to open our second location at Bayshore and look forward to introducing bubble tea to the entire North Shore community.”

Singh had been working toward an undergraduate degree in business administration from Marquette when he opened SereniTea’s first location. At the time, he told BizTimes Milwaukee that his vision was to bring something new to the area while creating a destination where students could study and socialize.

Valentine Coffee Coming to Third Ward

Milwaukee-based Valentine Coffee Co. is planning a new shop at the former Bella Caffe location at 189 N. Milwaukee St., filling a void left by the four Third Ward coffee joints that closed during the pandemic. Meyer reports:

Renovations to the 1,500-square-foot space for Valentine Coffee will cost an estimated $50,000, according to the permit. Eppstein Uhen Architects is listed as the applicant. The five-story building is owned by Monarch Properties.

Founded in 2009, Valentine Coffee wholesales its coffee to restaurants, cafes, and retail outlets. The business currently operates a roasting facility and cafe in Milwaukee at 5918 W. Vilet Street and a second cafe location at Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek. Valentine’s owners Robb Kashevarof and Joe Gilsdorf were not immediately available to comment on plans for the Third Ward location.

HoneyPie Café Open At New Location

The pie-slinging diner HoneyPie Café is officially open at its new location at 2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. For now, the cafe is open for patio dining and for carryout. Carol Deptolla reports:

HoneyPie previously operated at 2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. from 2009 until November, when it closed its original location to prepare for the move barely two blocks away. It had been offering takeout only during the pandemic.

Owner Valeri Lucks said she expects indoor dining will start in the new location in September — once work on the dining room is finished and more of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19.

Lucks moved the restaurant because the new space has more room for tables, a bigger patio and more of what she called functional space — more waiting room, a kitchen that’s twice as big and room to display pies at the front of the restaurant instead of the back.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. HoneyPie also pours beer, wine and cocktails, and sells pie by the slice.