New Cafe Planned For First Floor of 88Nine Building
Two-story studio building to undergo $770,000 renovation and expansion.
Renovated cafe space at 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. Rendering by TKWA.
The vacant cafe space at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee‘s headquarters will soon see new life. It has been vacant since Stone Creek Coffee closed its cafe in November.
A new cafe and eatery is slated to open in the space, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., in February.
“Our latest investment will add to the economic vitality of the growing Walker’s Point neighborhood,” said executive director Kevin Sucher in a statement. “It will also create new and improved spaces where the community can have a quick bite or camp out for the day to create and collaborate, with food and beverage offerings to help fuel them.”
The unnamed cafe and eatery will be led by former Meraki chef and owner Chad Meier. Meraki closed in August 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meier hired The Kubala Washatko Architects to lead the design of the new space. Plans include a 330-square-foot addition to the front of the cafe, adding an overhang over the reconfigured sidewalk seating section, installing three garage doors to allow partial open-air use of both interior spaces, building a kitchen in the rear of the cafe and reconfiguring the cafe’s layout. The new space will have 35 indoor seats and 30 outdoor seats.
The 14,000-square-foot Radio Milwaukee building was originally built as a foundry for Ullstrup Tool & Die Corp. in 1952, but redeveloped into a home for the radio station in 2013. A handful of first-floor studios are joined by an office suite and more studio space on the second floor. The rooftop of the building includes a performance space and green roof. The property, much of which is tax exempt, was assessed for $231,100 in 2020.
A community reception will be held Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. (and also streamed live on the 88Nine Facebook page) to unveil the cafe name and menu.
