On January 19, 2010, Bill Jenkins' Cush Lounge was destroyed in "the Pizza Man fire" on Milwaukee's East Side.
However, Jenkins is ready to open a new establishment and has Downtown Milwaukee in his sights for a new lounge and grill across the street from the Bradley Center.
Ivy Lounge and Grill, 1118 N. 4th St., will open in June next to the current sports bar, Courtside.
The 5,000 square-foot space will have three distinct sections inside, including an open façade that leads to an outside patio and additional seating similar to Cush Lounge. The venue will offer small-plate dining, an extensive mojito menu, unique décor and, according to Jenkins, "a vast music selection."
"Ivy will be a refreshing, much-welcomed venue in the Milwaukee's current nightlife mix. The intention is to attract a diverse, mature crowd in search of something innovative, exciting and thoroughly entertaining," said Jenkins, who is opening Ivy with business partner Steve LaMontagne.
"It will fill the void between corner bars and pretentious nightclubs. When you walk through the doors, you will have a social experience you won't ever forget," says Jenkins.
Jenkins, and his brother Robert, also owned Bayou Restaurant & Lounge, the Cajun fusion restaurant and bar on the banks of the Milwaukee River at 2060 N. Humboldt Blvd. Bayou closed May 2, 1010.
-- Molly Snyder contributed to this report.
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.
