A Familiar Face Returns to 3rd St. Market Hall

Milwaukee (February 8, 2022) – 3^rd St. Market Hall announced that the iconic Professor Stein “Bear on a Tightrope” statue has officially returned to his old home at The Avenue.

Professor Stein can be seen perched on the east side of 3^rd St. Market Hall’s 50-seat, full-service bar and will watch over guests as they enjoy beers of their own. He is sure to recapture the hearts of visitors to the market hall and will quickly become an icon for new generations as they learn about the history of downtown Milwaukee.

It was announced last year that the Milwaukee Public Market would be returning the famous Milwaukee statue after resurrecting him from hibernation and rehoming him back in 2013. The redevelopment of 3^rd St. Market Hall created the perfect opportunity to return this Milwaukee staple to his original home. In honor of his return, the 3^rd St. Market Hall bar is offering a $6 special on its “Bear On A Wire” cocktail for the week of February 8^th.

In 1982, The Rouse Company developed the Shops of Grand Avenue with traditional German influences. It famously featured a whimsical 7’ bear dressed in a top hat and suit coat, riding along a tightrope on a unicycle. This bear, Professor Stein, was a huge tourist attraction, and many people fondly remember seeing him upon their visits to the Shops of Grand Avenue. When Northwestern Mutual Life redeveloped the mall in 2004, the bear came down and went into hibernation.

“I enjoyed working with the Milwaukee Public Market team to bring Professor Stein home,” stated 3^rd St. Market Hall co-owner, Omar Shaikh. “They were very generous to house him for the past nine years and very helpful with his grand return home.”

“We’ve been proud to offer a temporary home to Professor Stein for the last 9 years at the Public Market, where we’ve curated other relics that engender a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for our city,” said Paul Schwartz, executive director of the Milwaukee Public Market and Business Improvement District #2. “The Professor’s ‘homecoming’ is a great symbol of a reenergized Avenue development and we look forward to exploring what will take his place at the Market.”

About 3^rd St. Market Hall

Located in the former Shops of Grand Avenue at the present-day The Avenue, 3^rd St. Market Hall is a world-class, eclectic food hall designed to be Milwaukee’s place for neighborhood culinary surprises and entertaining experiences. The market hall opened in January of 2022 with six of its vendors and several other vendors are opening as early as March. 3^rd St. Market Hall is home to the Photoverse Selfie Museum, Topgolf Swing Suites, a gaming lounge, and more. The market hall bar now offers happy hour specials that are sure to become a downtown favorite for employees, residents, and visitors alike. Interviews with 3^rd St. Market Hall management are available upon request and more details on other food hall vendors will be announced as they become available. For more information, follow @3rdstreetmarkethall on Facebook and Instagram.com/3rdstmarkethall or visit 3rdstmarkethall.com.

About the Milwaukee Public Market

Open since 2005 and owned by the Third Ward Business Improvement District #2, the Milwaukee Public Market has been named among America’s Best Public Market’s (by Frommers) and has become both an economic multiplier and a culinary destination, attracting regional residents and national travelers alike. Located in the vibrant Historic Third Ward neighborhood, the Market showcases 17 independent food & specialty vendors, offering a wide range of prepared food, grocery and artisanal products.  The 2^nd level hosts a wide array of private and public events, including cooking classes inside the Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen, which features instructors ranging from our own vendors and local Milwaukee chefs to nationally renowned cookbook authors.  With nearly 2 million annual visitors (2019), the Public Market is among the top attractions for visitors throughout the region. The success of the Market has gained national awareness – being used as a model for current and future market projects around the country. For more information, please visit MilwaukeePublicMarket.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.