Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant concept founded in Asheville, North Carolina, is slated to open its first Wisconsin location in the new Huron Building at 511 N. Broadway in Downtown Milwaukee.
According to developer Josh Jeffers of J. Jeffers and Co., the restaurant is expected to occupy about 5,000 square feet on the northwest corner of North Broadway and East Clybourn Streets and iis scheduled to open in late 2020 or early 2021.
"Tupelo Honey executives looked at various sites in the area, but they decided to be in the Huron Building because the location is becoming one of the most vibrant areas of Downtown Milwaukee," noted Jeffers in a release about the restaurant. "Visitors, tenants, workers and residents alike will be excited to have a quality dining option in this new building."
As for that menu, Tupelo Honey will offer scratch-made fare for brunch, lunch and dinner, along with craft cocktails. All are "responsibly sourced and infused with Southern spirit." Options will include longtime favorites like fried green tomatoes with basil, goat cheese grits and roasted red pepper coulis; "Shoo Mercy" sweet potato pancakes topped with fried chicken, bacon and fried eggs; and Tupelo Honey’s famous fried and roasted chicken, available in a variety of flavors.
Tupelo Honey will also boast an outdoor patio which embraces the unique streetscaping plan developed by Milwaukee’s Department of City Development. The notion behind the plan is to create a unique urban experience which will offer a welcoming space for both pedestrians and diners.
"We are excited to bring a bit of Southern hospitality to the Milwaukee area," noted Stephen D. Frabitore, CEO and Owner of Tupelo Honey. "The area where our new restaurant will be is a prime location. It’s at the entrance to the Historic Third Ward and directly across from the Milwaukee Public Market with easy access to The Hop streetcar. Our restaurant will add to the growing excitement that is being generated in this part of Milwaukee, and we look forward to seeing our customers enjoy our special brand of flavor."
Milwaukee will be part of the overall expansion of Tupelo Honey, which currently has locations in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The restaurant is also exploring several new locations in the Midwest.
Jeffers noted that the building itself is at about 50% occupancy, with the company in negotiations with several more office and retail tenants who have expressed interest.
"The Huron Building will offer modern office and retail amenities at the intersection of Milwaukee’s Central Business District and the Historic Third Ward," he says. "From the stepped terraces to the stone façade, the building’s design will complement the surrounding area and boost an already growing area of the Downtown community."
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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