While the Good City location in the Mayfair Collection in Wauwatosa has undergone its transformation into a new location for The Explorium, the taproom in the Mequon Public Market is taking a different turn.
“After careful analysis and collaboration with the property owner, we decided to close Good City Brewing in the Mequon Public Market,” says The Explorium co-owner Joan Doble. “The Market has a local business owner who wants the space, and we need to focus our resources on the other five locations in our group.
“This was an amicable decision on the part of the property owner, the new business, Smokin’ Jack’s BBQ, and us.”
Doble – who owns The Explorium Hospitality Group, which includes two Explorium Brewpubs and in January purchased the four Good City Brewing locations – said the location was a factor.
“This location is a stretch for us geographically in relation to our other locations and operating in a public market space presented challenges we were not confident we could overcome,” she told OnMilwaukee. “We didn’t feel we could give it the necessary attention to make it thrive.”
Doble said that Mequon employees were notified on Friday and were offered positions at other of the group’s locations, Downtown, on the East Side, and in Greendale and Wauwatosa.
“The difficult part of this decision for us was informing the current staff,” Doble said. “Many of the staff members who live in the local community have worked for Good City for multiple years and love the location and brand. We are grateful for the time and dedication they have given to both Good City before us and now Explorium.
“We (also) offered to connect them all with the new operator who willingly shared his contact information.”
The taproom is expected to close in about two weeks.
Meanwhile, after closing for a day to complete some decorating and branding changes at the Mayfair Collection location – work that began in January – the former Good City there is now The Explorium Brewpub Wauwatosa.
“As part of this rebranding, we have brought over the Explorium menu which incorporates a few Good City favorites,” Doble said. “Additionally, we now have a full bar program including rail liquor options, as well as a developing fine spirits collection.”
Some Good City favorites, like Motto pale ale, are still available.
Doble said that guests can now reserve tables and waitstaff will offer traditional table service. Mug Club memberships will be offered beginning this week.
“We are pleased with the transition and happy to see sales accelerating,” Doble said. “Our incredible staff deserves recognition for all of the time and hard work that was required to make this change happen in one month!”
The original Good City location, 2108 N. Farwell Ave., is next on The Explorium’s to-do list, with “a complete rebrand” expected to be completed by early April.
“We will be doing some remodeling of the interior to include an enhanced bar back and and a redecorated table area to further create a warm and inviting ambience,” Doble explained. “This location includes a great brewery operation and our craft beer taps will remain a key part of what we offer, but we are working on developing a full bar program like we have at all Exploriums in order to create an experience that connects with a broad range of guests.
“Plans are underway to develop an affordable, craveable small plates menu.”
The location remains open, and Doble said the rooftop bar will re-open as soon as weather allows.
“We are excited about becoming a part of the East Side community and a go-to place in the neighborhood,” she added.
As has been the plan from the start, Doble said, the Deer District location will remain untouched for now.
“Until after the basketball season which we hope extends into June,” Doble said. “At some point this summer, we will do some remodeling of the interior space to include increasing the size of the bar and improving the ambience through decorating changes.
“We really want to make this location a place to visit during times outside of Fiserv Forum event days but know that this is challenging in this area. However, with the upcoming addition of the music venue, move of the Milwaukee Public Museum and the development of the MATC fitness complex nearby we have plenty of reasons to be excited about the future here.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
