A Milwaukee classic is undergoing a slight revamp, thanks to a new partnership between Jake’s Deli owner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner Emeritus of Major League Baseball, and Stand Eat Drink Hospitality group, owners of Movida, forthcoming Hotel Madrid and Yokohama 1910.
Aaron Garsonde, co-owner of Stand Eat Drink, says they’ve been spending the last couple of weeks revamping the menu under the direction of Executive Chef Jessica Brandser.
He was clear in noting that Jake’s fans shouldn’t be concerned that the restaurant is undergoing dramatic changes.
"Our main goal is to revitalize the business to bring it back to its former glory, the way it was in the 1950s and 60s," Garsonde notes, "We’ve dropped prices on some items to make them more affordable, and we’ve transitioned over to more housemade items."
Those items include housemade matzo ball soup and chili, as well as making the transition to slicing meats to order for sandwiches.
The new menu has currently rolled out at the North Avenue location, and will be introduced at both the Grand Avenue and Southridge locations in the coming weeks.
According to Garsonde, the partnership has been in place since approximately the beginning of July. Their main focus, he says, was to get the business on track and running smoothly before going public with the news.
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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