Barnacle Buds Becomes Supper Club For One Month
Plus: New tamale restaurant, new eggroll vendor, new Mexican restaurant in Walker's Point.
Barnacle Bud’s. Photo by Cari Taylor-Carlson.
Barnacle Bud’s will shake up its typical offerings next month, debuting a new food and drink menu to carry the riverside restaurant, 1955 S. Hilbert St., through at least the end of 2023
One thing’s for certain — the new vibe will pair perfectly with an old fashioned.
“We are thrilled to announce that this December we are transforming the Barnacle Bud’s dining room into warm and inviting supper club!” owner Gene McKiernan wrote in a social media post.
In a follow-up post, he explained that he sees the endeavor as an enjoyable way to mix things up in the kitchen.
“As each year passes, our business becomes increasingly busy, leaving us with limited capacity to explore innovative menu options,” he wrote. “This pop-up initiative grants us the chance to unleash our creativity and enjoy ourselves in the process.”
Nov. 19 will be the final day to enjoy Barnacle Bud’s current menu, which features fresh and fried seafood, sandwiches, salads and other casual fare.
The supper club pop-up will commence on Nov. 24 and run through the end of December, though McKiernan notes that it could continue into January.
McKiernan has not yet shared a full food menu, though supper club staples such as steaks and a proper relish tray are sure to make the cut. He did, however, tease a selection of classic ice cream drinks including a Pink Squirrel, Grasshopper, Brandy Alexander and a “unique” rum old fashioned.
Reservations are required for the supper club, and will go live on the Barnacle Bud’s website Tuesday, Oct. 24.
More information will be available online in the coming weeks.
McKiernan did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
New Cafe and Bakery For Harbor District
A new bakery and cafe is preparing to open next year at River One (or R1VER), bringing handmade food, beverages and a “homey” atmosphere to the growing Harbor District development.
The upcoming business, a project of industry veterans George and Karen Herrera, will occupy a 4,200-square-foot retail space at the northwest corner of S. 1st and E. Becher streets, below the Tribute Apartments.
The Herreras, a married couple, bring more than two decades of experience to the new venture; they also operate Sugar & Flour Bakery Cafe in Greendale, which opened in 2001 and expanded in 2019.
Though they have not yet announced a name for the concept, the Herreras have a clear idea of what they hope to offer the community.
Sprecher Brewery Aims To Be National Soft Drink Leader
There is a photograph in the visitor center of Sprecher Brewing Co. depicting three men hoisting beers and smiling broadly. It was taken in February, 2020, and features Randal Sprecher flanked by Sharad Chadha and Andy Nunemaker as they celebrated the sale of the business Sprecher founded in 1985 as Wisconsin’s first new Post-Prohibition era brewery.
Mere weeks later, as COVID-19 ravaged the planet, shuttering taverns and restaurants and obliging millions to live in isolation, only Sprecher remained smiling. He sold out just in time. For CEO Chadha, the largest shareholder and Nunemaker, his principal investor, a large portion of their business model went down the drain, along with kegs of unsold beer.
Chadha, 51, came to Milwaukee from his native India at the suggestion of Dr. Dilip Kohli, Professor and Chair of the Mechanical engineering department at UW-Milwaukee, a cousin of Chadha’s schoolteacher mother.
Soul Food Restaurant For Villard Avenue
When discussing options for quick and convenient meals the gas station at 3709 W. Villard Ave. is likely not the first place that comes to mind. Nevertheless, Fiyahside Jamaican Cuisine has amassed a loyal following — particularly during the lunchtime hours — throughout its nearly seven-year tenure in the Old North Milwaukee neighborhood building.
Now, a new restaurateur is looking to continue the tradition. William Green recently submitted a license application to open Smoke-N-Bones, a soul food and barbeque restaurant, in the space.
The business, which aims to open later this month, would operate as a quick-service establishment for takeout only.
Fiyahside closed its Villard Avenue location on Sept. 18, according to the license application. The restaurant is now operating at 7434 W. Capitol Dr., the former home of Stella J’s Soul Food.
Tamale Restaurant Planned Near I-94, Becher Street
When it comes to making tamales, technique is everything, and Marta Lopez Salazar learned from the best — watching the well-practiced hands of her mother and grandparents.
Years later, Lopez Salazar is the specialist. As owner of Marta’s Tamales, the chef prepares and sells a wide variety of Mexican and Guatemalan dishes from her southside food truck.
In the coming months, Lopez Salazar plans to add a brick-and-mortar location to her growing business. The new, full-service restaurant is slated to open at 551 W. Becher St., replacing Fastbreak Cafe in the Lincoln Village neighborhood.
Lopez Salazar said she plans to continue serving her signature Mexican and Guatemalan dishes including tlayudas, pupusas and pollo asado. The menu will also feature an assortment of tamales including chicken, pork, poblano and dessert varieties, as well as birria tacos and ramen.
Bill Would Allow New Bars To Offer Indoor Cigar, Pipe Smoking
A bill working its way through the Wisconsin State Legislature would allow indoor smoking at taverns for the first time in nearly 15 years — but not without substantial caveats.
If passed, the bill would exempt certain bars from a statewide smoking ban that went into effect in July 2010, given they generate at least 15% of annual income from the sale of cigars or pipe tobacco, which cannot be sold via vending machine. It would not allow cigarette smoking.
Under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009 are exempt from the general smoking ban. In Milwaukee, that includes establishments such as Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Uhle’s Tobacco Company.
The bill, introduced Sept. 29, alters a simple — but key — portion of the original smoking ban by eliminating the 2009 cutoff.
New Mexican Restaurant Opens in Walker’s Point
Taqueria la Guelaguetza is continuing its Milwaukee growth with its first sit-down restaurant.
The new Walker’s Point restaurant is now open at 1039 W. National Ave., serving Mexican cuisine with a particular emphasis on regional Oaxacan dishes including mole and tlayuda.
In addition to its menu items, Guelaguetza also takes its name from Oaxaca — more specifically, the Guelaguetza Festival. Also known as Los lunes del cerro (Mondays on the hill), the annual celebration takes place during the final two weeks in July, honoring indigenous culture through traditional dress and dance. Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word meaning “offering” or “mutual cooperation.”
The family-owned business, led by Lucia Antonio Perez, got its start more than 10 years ago as a mobile operation, but has since expanded to include multiple food trucks and a takeout-only restaurant at 3902 S. Whitnall Ave.
New Cafe, Grocery Store Planned for Mill Road
From his boxing gym on Mill Road, Kirby Lockett often observes neighbors — including elderly people and parents with small children — walking “long distances” to purchase soda, coffee and snacks at the nearest store.
“That’s a walk, especially in the winter time,” said the entrepreneur, who operates On the Mill, a tavern, and Cream City Boxing at 5132 W. Mill Rd.
In response, Lockett is partnering with a seasoned Milwaukee business owner to bring a cafe and grocery store to a vacant space in his building. Charnjit Kaur, who owns four Milwaukee locations for Stark Foods, is the licensee for the new concepts, which are slated to open in the coming months.
In one part of the building, a new location for Stark Foods would sell fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, as well as frozen foods, dairy, cereals and more. The store plans to sell beer and wine, but will not center solely on alcohol, Kaur told the Licenses Committee during its Oct. 17 meeting.
Ready to Roll Joins Crossroads Collective
It’s wheels up for Ready to Roll. The mobile eggroll purveyor is setting up shop at Crossroad Collective‘s Corner Pop-Up.
The pop-up space, which launched earlier this year, hosts a rotating lineup of food-related businesses for short-term stays. Tots on the Street and 4 All My Dogs previously occupied the space.
Ready to Roll is next up, with tentative plans for a grand opening on Nov. 10 at the food hall, 2238 N. Farwell Ave. Ready to Roll plans to occupy the space through April 2024.
Although new to Milwaukee, Ready to Roll has been serving the streets of Chicago for more than a decade. Shatoia Robinson launched the food truck there in 2011, but returned to Milwaukee — her hometown — last year and partnered with her mother, Sandra, for the new venture.
Taste of the Gateway Returns For 4th Year
Need a cheap meal on the fly? Taste of the Gateway returns this week for the fourth year, offering discounts at 10 restaurants near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
During the deal, which runs from Wednesday, Oct. 18 through Thursday, Oct. 19, The Gateway to Milwaukee, a business association that promotes the area, will sponsor $10 discounts on any purchase of $20 or more.
The initiative aims to promote and support local businesses located on Milwaukee’s far South Side.
“We have a fantastic mix of cultures and restaurants in the airport area, and The Taste of the Gateway – Dining Days is a great way to get to know some of the best locally owned and operated restaurants in the community,” said Leif Otteson, executive director of The Gateway to Milwaukee, in a statement.
Sip & Purr Moving to Brady Street
Happy tails to Sip & Purr. The cat cafe is preparing to hit the trail, relocating from the East Side to Brady Street early next year.
Owner Katy McHugh announced the upcoming move in a social media post, touting the new location’s proximity to Downtown and the Deer District.
“Not only is Sip & Purr a cat adoption location, we’re a popular destination,” she wrote. “Our new location will be more accessible to folks, allowing us to continue our mission of saving cats!”
Indeed, the future location, 833 E. Brady St., is about a mile northeast of the entertainment hub anchored by Fiserv Forum. But that’s not the cafe’s only connection to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Outpost Will End FoodShare Produce Discount
Since its inception in 1970, Outpost Natural Foods has provided a wide variety of fresh produce to shoppers, with an emphasis on organic items. In April 2022, the store took it one step further, making its products more accessible to low-income customers through a partnership with Hunger Task Force that offered a 50% discount on fresh produce for Wisconsin FoodShare recipients.
But the program, Produce to the People, is slated to end next month, according to a Monday evening news release from Outpost.
“The United States Department of Agriculture Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) has turned down the grant application from Hunger Task Force to renew the funding that was used for Produce to the People,” the statement said.
As a result, the program will conclude on Nov. 30. Until then, FoodShare recipients can continue to access the discount as usual by showing their EBT card at checkout. Even if the balance on the card runs out, the discount will still apply.
Indian Restaurant Opens On East Side
Fans of Curry Hut‘s comforting Indian cuisine can now find their favorite dishes in Milwaukee’s Lower East Side neighborhood. Brother-sister team Sanjeev and Kavita Sharma quietly opened the restaurant’s second location earlier this month at 1888 N. Humboldt Ave.
The space, previously home to Wisconsin Pizza Authority, has been repainted in vibrant yellow, while the outdoor awning sports new, temporary signage.
The new restaurant’s menu is the same as the flagship location, offering meat, vegetable and seafood dishes inspired by the siblings’ mother, who was an avid cook.
Appetizers include popular street foods like samosa, aloo tikki, Amritsari fish fry and pakora, a deep-fried fritter made with spiced chickpea batter.
Saz’s Breaks Ground on Walker’s Point Expansion
Saz’s Hospitality Group broke ground on its newest project Monday morning. Members of the group’s leadership team — standing on wooden planks to avoid the mud from last week’s rain — plunged golden shovels into the dirt at 822 S. 2nd St., kicking off a major expansion to the company’s Walker’s Point event venue, South Second.
The 14,280-square-foot lot is adjacent to the existing venue, 838 S. 2nd St. Come spring 2024, the space will feature an all-seasons patio, outdoor bar, elevated balcony, additional green spaces and parking for event guests. The updated venue will have an outdoor capacity of 225, with the ability to accommodate up to 300 guests including indoor space.
“It’s going to be a fantastic addition to the Walker’s Point neighborhood,” said Joe Brueggemann, group partner and chief operating officer at Saz’s.
He also noted that the company is “always looking at investing, growing and looking towards that next project of expansion with an eye towards ‘what can we do better tomorrow.'”
19 Milwaukee Events to Haunt Your Halloween
Halloween weekend is creeping closer, and Milwaukee has no shortage of festivities to choose from — whether you’re in search of family-friendly frights or an all-out evening at one of your favorite haunts.
Choose your own Halloween adventure from the following list of activities and events.
A Halloween for “The Last of Us”
Lost Whale is bringing post-outbreak America to Bay View. The cocktail bar, known for its annual Halloween transformation, will offer themed drinks, decorations and entertainment inspired by “The Last of Us,” a video game that became a popular TV show.
The pop-up will take place from Oct. 26-29 at Lost Whale, 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. There is no cover charge and no reservations.
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