Last week I finally had lunch at City Winery in Chicago. It’s a project done by Phillip Katz, a former Milwaukeean who owns Project Development LLC. It was founded, though, in New York’s Soho neighborhood by Michael Dorf, another Milwaukee native who founded, then sold, NYC’s legendary club The Knitting Factory.
The location (one of seven in the country; a second Chicago outpost is located on the city's riverwalk) – in the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph St. – seats 300 and is spacious, beautifully designed and features a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert venue and event space. The 30,000-square foot location is super cool with its old brick and timber construction and funky, but not too funky, design. Perfect, I thought, for Milwaukee.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
As we look at the growth in and around Downtown, I think a place like City Winery could do well. It’s unique, large and creates an experience that’s missing in our market.
With seemingly new cranes popping up daily and transactions cranking and banking at the speed of sound, Milwaukee’s in a development boon. Yet, have we really asked the questions: What do we need? What do we want in a restaurant or bar? What’s missing? What works for the 25-50 demographic these days?
I want to know your thoughts. What’s missing in Downtown Milwaukee?
Fire away on FB, Twitter or via the talkback feature below. Onward and On Milwaukee!
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
