{image1}When Kevin Sloan opened The Social, 434 N. 2nd St., he had just turned 28 and was happy to find a place he could afford. Now, four years later, Sloan is ready for his popular bar and restaurant to evolve -- but not too much.
"The essence of The Social will be the same," says Sloan, who will move the bar three blocks north to 118 Pittsburgh Ave. in late winter or early spring. "By essence I mean the energy and vibe of the place."
After working the floor of The Social for a couple of years, Sloan was aware of the buzz around his joint: great place, but really crowded. He says the small size was especially apparent when large parties called and wanted to reserve a table for 15 or 20 people.
So, he started looking for a new space that would provide more room for his diners, drinkers, chefs and servers.
"I like the cozy aspect, but the current space, especially the kitchen, is very difficult to work with," he says.
Sloan is psyched be able to offer live music in a roomier environment. "Now when I want to have music I won't have to kick diners out of seats so the band can set up," he says.
The new location is almost 3,000 square feet -- twice the size of the old location -- and will have more seating, a larger bar area and a private room for parties or large groups. It will also have a 2,000-square foot kitchen in the basement, but the chefs will still do much of their cooking in an exposed area just as they did in the old location.
The Social's new menu will feature most of the old favorites, including the mac and cheese, smoked trout and warm duck salad, but will boast numerous surprises as well.
"Our menu is -- and always will be -- a contemporary cuisine rooted in the Midwest," he says.
Sloan looked for a couple of years before signing a lease with Tim Dixon, who built out the Brewer's Hill restaurant, Roots. He says the new building is exactly what he was looking for -- something similar to what he had only larger.
"The guts will be the same, with an old world feel and contemporary touches," he says. "People walk into the new space and say 'Yes, this is The Social.'"
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
