Non-Alcoholic ‘Third Spaces’ On the Rise
Plus: Saffron's new menu, Central Standard's new location and farewell to This is It.
Pistachio latte from Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. Photo taken Feb. 18, 2024 by Sophie Bolich.
Much of Milwaukee’s social scene remains tied to bars and breweries, but as the city settles into a post-COVID rhythm, a new kind of “third space” is gaining momentum.
A rising wave of alcohol-free businesses—along with those that serve, but don’t center, adult beverages—caters to consumers’ renewed desire to be somewhere; to linger, meet or unwind. But instead of beer and cocktails, the draw is conversation, community and a place to simply exist.
One such business is Haraz Coffee House, which opened its doors at 2900 N. Oakland Ave. earlier this month. The cafe keeps later hours than most, ensuring its customers have a welcoming space to enjoy a coffee, tea or snack from early morning until late at night.
“Your typical coffee shop opens from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but we wanted to be more available — to bring the third space back into the mix,” said co-owner Madhi Hassan. “If you’re not at school, work or home, this is your place to hang out.”
Haraz is one of several Yemeni and Middle Eastern-inspired coffee shops to join the Milwaukee area in recent months, along with Al Wadi Coffee House, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. and Qahwah House. Another, Azal Coffee, is slated to open in the coming months.
While their individual hours vary, each of the cafes remains open late into the night — sometimes until bar close — with menu items ranging from pistachio lattes and calming teas to sweet treats like cheesecake and baklava.
Similar spots include Jr’s Treats and Gordo’s Bubble Waffles, which provide casual snacks and seating, as well as HoneyBee Sage Apothecary & Herbal Beverage Lounge, a non-alcoholic bar serving teas and other wellness-focused drinks. Agency, a cocktail lounge, takes a hybrid approach with a menu that gives equal attention to alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
This new wave of third spaces not only moves beyond the pubs and breweries traditionally tied to the term, but also diverges from gathering places that peaked in recent decades—like malls and movie theaters.
Forthcoming additions could include Midwest SAD’s upcoming brick-and-mortar in Walker’s Point—late-night croissants, anyone?—and House of Bridges, a community hub designed as a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, where gathering doesn’t come with the expectation of drinking or even making a purchase.
As these spaces continue to grow and evolve, they’re reshaping the concept of a third space in Milwaukee—proving that sometimes, the most meaningful social spots are simply the ones that let you show up as yourself.
30 Chefs Unite For ‘Dim Sum Give Some’ Fundraiser
A single siu mai won’t fill you up—after all, it’s just one dumpling. But when it’s part of a larger dim sum spread, small bites add up—just like charity, where each contribution builds towards something greater.
Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite announced Monday the return of Dim Sum Give Some, a charitable dining event featuring an all-star lineup of chefs to benefit the Kennedy’s Disease Association.
Jacobs and Van Rite, co-owners of DanDan and EsterEv, held the inaugural fundraiser in 2017. This year’s event, sponsored by OpenTable, will take place April 13 at noon to 3 p.m. at Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., featuring small-plate dishes from participating chefs.
Along with a host of Milwaukee-based chefs, Jacobs, a “Top Chef” alum, has recruited nearly every contestant from his season for the fundraiser.
Historic Bar Getting New Operator
After nearly 47 years on Milwaukee’s East Side, Von Trier is set to begin a new chapter this spring. Tavern proprietor and history buff John Dye will take over operations in May, with plans to revamp the space at 2235 N. Farwell Ave. while preserving its historic charm.
Dye has built a reputation for restoring and revitalizing Milwaukee institutions, a pattern seen in his work with Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, At Random and The Estate. When Von Trier’s current operator, Mark Zierath, chose not to renew his lease, Dye stepped in.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to shepherd Von Trier into its next chapter,” Dye said in a statement. “Von Trier has been a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s distinctive bar culture for generations, and I’m committed to preserving its unique character while ensuring it remains a vibrant part of our city’s story.”
While he admires the tavern for its German theme and “stunning Cyril Colnik chandelier,” Dye’s connection to Von Trier runs deeper.
Corned Beef Restaurant To Replace Buffalo Boss
The Buffalo Boss restaurant space at 540 N. 27th St. will soon be home to Mae Velma’s Corned Beef.
Tyron Smith, owner of the popular local chain, will occupy the recently built-out restaurant space with his fourth Mae Velma’s location. A fast-tracked opening is planned in the coming weeks. Buffalo Boss closed last fall, a year after substantially renovating the building.
Mae Velma’s is named in honor of Smith’s late mother—his original kitchen mentor and a continuing source of inspiration. The restaurant specializes in corned beef, a childhood favorite of Smith’s, offering the salt-cured meat on sandwiches, on reuben rolls or by the pound.
The menu, identical across each location, also features Italian beef, fried catfish, perch, shrimp and grits, chicken wings, chicken tenders and more, along with desserts like coconut cake, caramel cake and turtle cheesecake.
USDA Ends Program That Brought Locally-Grown Food To Pantries, Schools
After 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, Ryan Sullivan decided to try something different — starting a farm in Manitowoc County.
His family grows vegetables, grazes sheep and cattle, and keeps poultry and bees on their 5-acre regenerative farm.
“We’re chemical-free,” he said. “And we are constantly working to build soil.”
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture started paying Sullivan to deliver meat and vegetables from his farm to a local food pantry, Grow it Forward in Manitowoc.
New Event Venue in Riverside Park
The owners of Filament, The Ivy House, The Starling and other prominent Milwaukee event venues are expanding their local presence with a new eco-friendly space, operated in partnership with the Urban Ecology Center (UEC).
Prairie Springs on Park will make its debut on March 19 at 1420 E. Park Pl. with a public open house from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Two Birds Event Group is behind the venue, which transformed a long-vacant warehouse into a neighborhood asset.
“Prairie Springs on Park will change the landscape of Milwaukee event spaces by creating a stunning eco-friendly setting for any special event that marries urban elegance with the enchantment of the natural world,” said Jen Hense, UEC’s executive director, in a statement.
The new venue features a 100-person covered patio, a 75-person balcony and a 5,000-square-foot green space, along with bird-safe glass windows designed to prevent collisions. With a capacity of up to 300 guests, it is expected to host weddings, corporate gatherings, nonprofit fundraisers and other private events.
New Cafe Opens in Former Al Bazzar
For some, it’s a dose of culture. For others, it’s a taste of home. Al Wadi Coffee House, a new addition to Milwaukee’s South Side, offers both, depending on the customer.
Located in the former Al Bazzar Restaurant & Sweets space at 200 W. Layton Ave., the Middle Eastern-inspired coffee shop quietly opened in early March, coinciding with Ramadan.
“We want people to come in here and absorb the artwork, the atmosphere, the drinks — so they’re getting that culture in some fashion,” said Mohamed Musaitif, who operates the cafe with his brother, Mohanned.
The timeline was a tight one for the brothers, who worked up to 15 hours per day throughout to January and February to complete the transition — including new flooring, walls, ceiling, lighting, and decor — in time for the holy month.
Central Standard Opening Second Location
Central Standard Craft Distillery is spreading its wings, with plans to open a second location at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport this fall, according to a news release.
The new Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen will occupy 1,069 square feet within Concourse C, featuring 51 seats, plus a menu of cocktails and best-selling dishes from the flagship location at 320 E. Clybourn St.
“The Airport is an incredible partner to work with and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity,” said Evan Hughes, co-founder of Central Standard Craft Distillery, in a statement. “Whether travelers are arriving or departing, we want to create a memorable first impression of the city and share the craft quality that defines us.”
Central Standard made its Milwaukee debut in 2014, specializing in bourbon, whiskey, vodka and gin made with locally sourced ingredients like Door County cherries and honey from Germantown. Its decade-long tenure has come with both local and national accolades.
Third Ward’s Saffron Debuts New Menu
Forget the groundhog—Saffron’s annual menu refresh is the true harbinger of spring.
The contemporary Indian restaurant is soon to celebrate its third anniversary and has introduced two menu revamps along the way. Now fully settled into its Historic Third Ward location at 223 N. Water St., Saffron continues to push boundaries in Milwaukee’s dining scene.
One thing owners Hanish and Fatima Kumar have learned along the way? Sometimes a plate just won’t do. The married couple, both avid travelers and culinary epicureans, have a knack for bold presentation.
That manifests on the latest menu through dry-iced cocktails, tableside garnishes and gold-flecked desserts, but is perhaps most striking in the Saffron canapé flight.
Third Ward Poke Spot Quietly Closed
FreshFin quietly closed its location in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward last fall, a move owner Nate Arkush said is part of a strategic plan to focus resources on expanding the brand across Illinois.
Housed within the Landmark Building at 316 N. Milwaukee St., FreshFin operated as an express location, offering streamlined lunch service on weekdays only. The restaurant officially closed in November 2024, according to Arkush. On Monday, a worker was on-site removing its window decals.
“It was always meant to be a shorter-term location for us,” Arkush told Urban Milwaukee. “The reason we closed it was specifically to focus on larger projects that we have in the pipeline.”
That includes entering the Illinois market, with a new location planned to open in Naperville later this year.
La Finca Serves More Than Coffee
La Finca Coffeehouse is located near the lakefront and less than a mile south of Bay View at 3558 E. Sivyer Ave. in St. Francis. It offers a plethora of coffee drinks to satisfy aficionados of the bean. In 2017, this Mexican-inspired café opened in the building many may remember as FIXX, (the place with the cozy couches) and began a tradition of coffee excellence as they source all their beans from the family plantation in Oaxaca.
The list of coffee specialties is long and includes several House Creations such as the Coquito Latte made with coconut cream, the Tres Leches Latte, sweet cream, caramel, and vanilla, and my Mexican Mocha with milk, chocolate powder, cinnamon, and cayenne. It was sweet, but not too sweet, with the cayenne adding extra bling to the finish. You cannot go wrong with any of the House Creations and you may want to return often as I do, to linger with any one of the eight specialties.
Also worth a mention: the Horchata, a milk-based drink that is seasoned with cinnamon and vanilla which you can order in a latte, in brewed coffee, or as my companion did, over ice. Like the Mexican Mocha, it was deliciously sweet, but again, not too sweet.
You may find it hard to choose your entree from the brief but enticing menu plus all the Specialties listed on the board. My companion’s Black Bean Quesadilla had a generous portion of Monterey Jack and pico de gallo along with the black beans inside the flour tortilla. The addition of sliced jalapenos added some spice to every bite.
City Still Pausing New Liquor Licenses in Vacant Aldermanic District
When Milwaukee’s 3rd Aldermanic District elects a new leader in April, it will not only mark a fresh start for several East Side neighborhoods but also end the months-long pause on new liquor licenses for businesses in the area.
The Milwaukee Common Council typically does not grant new liquor licenses without input from the district’s elected representative, and the third district has lacked that representation since former alderman Jonathan Brostoff‘s passing in November.
A passionate advocate for Milwaukee, Brostoff’s tenure was defined, in part, by a selective approach to granting new liquor licenses — especially on Brady Street, which has a large concentration of alcohol-serving businesses. In his absence, the Milwaukee Licenses Committee has remained true to that method, opting to hold new applications until the seat is filled.
Pending licenses range from dive bars and convenience stores to a sustainable event venue at Riverside Park and an upscale Mediterranean restaurant on Farwell Avenue.
Historic Gay Bar This is It! Has Closed
That was it.
Wisconsin’s oldest continually operating gay bar, This is It!, announced its permanent closure over the weekend.
Founded in 1968 by June Brehm and later passed down to her son, Joseph Brehm, the tavern at 418 E. Wells St. has been a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s LGBTQIA+ community, serving as a hub for connection, exploration and belonging. It was also one of the city’s top venues for drag performances.
In an online post, owners George Schneider and Brian Firkus attributed the closure to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing years, along with a street reconstruction project that closed the road and sidewalk in front of the tavern for much of 2024.
Lost Whale Announces Throwback and TV Show-Themed Events
With St. Patrick’s Day and a new seasonal menu on the horizon, Lost Whale is planning two special events to celebrate.
The Bay View cocktail bar, located at 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is bringing back its Paddy’s Pub pop-up next week, followed by a Spring Break 99-themed party for the release of its spring menu in early April.
Festivities at Lost Whale will kick off March 13, as the bar transforms into Paddy’s Pub, the infamous “worst bar in Philadelphia” from FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The pop-up, which runs through March 17, has become an annual tradition at the bar, with last year’s event spreading across the neighborhood, as Sugar Maple and 1840 Brewing joined in on the fun.
This year, guests can look forward to new cocktails, daily events and themed specials from Pallino Burger, which will rebrand as Gugino’s for the week. The full lineup includes trivia and spirit sampling on March 13, a flip cup tournament on March 14, costume and vision board contests on March 15, Chardee MacDennis (a game featured on the show) on March 16, and Wii bowling on March 17.
Northside Food Pantry Experiences 40% Surge in Attendance
Housed in a small garage behind Eastbrook Church, the eponymous food pantry has been serving the community for more than 30 years. A Hunger Task Force partner since 2006, Eastbrook Church Food Pantry takes pride in its selection and accessibility, offering a wide variety of grocery products and operating outside of regular business hours to accommodate working clients.
While Eastbrook sees new faces every month, its coordinator, Brian Dressner, said attendance, compared to the year prior, has surged approximately 40% over the past six months. Last month, the pantry, located at 5385 N. Green Bay Ave., served 334 households, of which 69 were new.
Dressner said the change can’t be attributed to just one factor. He noted that a major driver was a recent switch from curbside service to a choice model, which allows clients to enter the food pantry and select their own items, similar to a regular grocery store.
“We think this treats people with more dignity, and is more efficient,” Dressner said, noting that the model ensures clients are taking only what they want, reducing food waste.
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