Saz’s Hospitality Group’s South Second event venue at 828 S. 2nd St. in Walker’s Point, is getting a deluxe outdoor space on a vacant lot next door.
The patio space will have an outdoor bar tucked beneath a balcony space and adjacent parking with 17 spaces. The project will cover 14,290 square feet.
HGA is the architect for the project.
(UPDATE: Ground was broken on this project in mid-October 2023.)
The land – just north of the 1956 building that was previously home to Federal Manufacturing and has been home to South Second since 2016 – was purchased by Saz’s in 2021.
The patio is expected to be a year-round space with the ability to add a tent and heaters.
The outdoor space will have a capacity of 225 guests and combined with the interior space at South Second, the overall capacity will be 300.
Saz’s expects the space to be popular for weddings and receptions, corporate events, cocktail receptions, birthday parties, bridal and baby showers and other celebrations.
“We’re very excited to start this project,” said Saz’s partner Casey Sazama-Schneck. “We have seen so much potential in this space and are ready to transform it with these additions. It’s going to really elevate the event experience for our future clients and guests.”
The project has a planned completion date in 2024.
“We’re very committed to investing in the Walker’s Point neighborhood and look forward to transforming the current vacant lot into something special and unique,” said Saz’s Hospitality Group founder, Steve Sazama.
“We believe in nothing but ‘The Finest’ for our guests, and 2024 holds a lot of excitement around what we have in store.”
South Second will host open house tours from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 28, July 19 and Aug. 2. No appointment is necessary.
For more information on South Second, go to southsecondmke.com.
Saz’s Hospitality Group, founded in 1976, operates Saz’s State House Restaurant, Saz’s Catering, five exclusive venues – The George and Madcap Lounge, Jan Serr Studio, Marcus Performing Arts Center, South Second – Western Lakes Golf Club, Saz’s Festivals and Saz’s BBQ Retail Products.
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.
