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A new cafe and eatery featuring a full food and beverage menu and covered outdoor seating is slated for Walker’s Point. In fact, the currently unnamed venue could open as soon as February of 2022.
The new restaurant will be part of a major $770,000 renovation and expansion, funded by the generosity of anonymous donors, at the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee studios, located at 220 Pittsburgh Ave.
In fact, plans for the new venue will completely transform the empty retail space which housed Stone Creek Coffee before the coffee shop closed in November of 2020.
Behind the new venue is Chef Chad Meier, former owner of Meraki, a top-rated Walker's Point restaurant which closed last November, due to hardships of the pandemic. Under Meier's hand, the restaurant made a splash with its globally inspired dishes featuring local, seasonal ingredients.
“Our menu will be eclectic and constantly changing, just like the music that 88Nine plays,” notes Meier. “I look forward to sharing some amazing dishes and helping create a casual, creative space to facilitate community connections.”
A peek at the plans
The restaurant, which will be designed by The Kubala Washatko Architects, a Milwaukee-based firm which has headed up other high profile community-based projects including Zocalo Food Park and the Milwaukee Public Market.
During construction, the former cafe area will be entirely redesigned, with a kitchen added in the back portion of the space. A 300+ square foot addition will bring the front of the cafe and eatery to around 1650 square feet.
The installation of three garage door style windows along the sidewalk will allow for an open-air feel in the community room, along with access to outdoor seating in the front of the building, which will be protected by an opaque overhang.
All told, the eatery is expected to accommodate around 70 guests, including 35 indoors.
A project based in community
Kevin Sucher, Radio Milwaukee executive director, notes that, among the goals behind the improvements to the station’s studio and office building, is to further strengthen its ties to the community.
“Our latest investment will add to the economic vitality of the growing Walker’s Point neighborhood,” notes Radio Milwaukee Executive Director Keviin Sucher, who says the hope is for the improvements to the station’s studio and building to further strengthen its ties to the community.
“It will also create new and improved spaces where the community can have a quick bite or camp out for the day to create and collaborate, with food and beverage offerings to help fuel them.”
Radio Milwaukee will hold a community reception at the station on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. to unveil the menu and name of the eatery, along with additional details on the project. The reception will be live streamed on the station’s Facebook page.
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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