Owner Shares Plans For New 3rd Street Market Hall Restaurant
From Cermak to Creta, Edgar Aispuro is bringing Mediterranean cuisine to the downtown food hall.
3rd Street Market Hall. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Restaurateur Edgar Aispuro Garcia has made a mark in Milwaukee with his expertise in Latin American cuisine. But, unbeknown to most, he also excels in Greek dishes — a skill he developed in an unlikely setting: as head chef at Cermak Fresh Market.
“It’s so simple, but yet so good,” he said, noting that the store “didn’t skimp on ingredients,” importing olive oil and other staples directly from Greece.
With a thorough understanding — and appreciation — for Mediterranean flavors, Aispuro Garcia and his business partner, Paco Villar, plan to celebrate the cuisine with a new concept at 3rd Street Market Hall.
Creta Mediterranean Grill, set to open in the coming months, will be Aispuro Garcia’s second restaurant at the food hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., joining Criollo Rotisserie Chicken. Villar, another industry veteran, is the owner of Kompali, a taco restaurant with locations at 3rd Street Market Hall and on Brady Street.
In two years at the downtown spot, Aispuro Garcia said he’s enjoyed the mix of regulars, office workers and tourists who visit the food hall. “We feel like people are still getting to know the place,” he said. “So we still get those new customers.”
Creta came about as a way to fill a soon-to-be vacant stall at the food hall. Goodland Greens, currently spread across two spaces, plans to consolidate its operations to just one. But Aispuro Garcia said he almost didn’t take the opportunity.
“Our hands are kind of full right now,” he said, noting the imminent launch of a Criollo Rotisserie Chicken food truck. He eventually agreed, but on one condition: “I told them we wanted to do something totally different than anyone else in there.”
Once open, Creta plans to serve gyros and shawarma with a choice of protein, spanakopita, falafel and other entrees, along with hummus and pita, fries and ice cream.
Creta plans to open in April. Its license application is pending before the Milwaukee Common Council.
In addition to its downtown location, Creta is slated to join the 3rd Street Market Hall Annex at American Family Field — possibly as soon as this season.
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