News Summary
Milwaukee is undergoing significant changes with new projects including a food truck park, a sports bar, and affordable housing initiatives. The food truck park at Patio Lounge aims to enhance community interaction, while Diaspora Sports Bar will cater to local sports fans. Additionally, a proposed housing project by New Land Enterprises highlights efforts to provide affordable living options. These developments reflect a vibrant and evolving cityscape, with plans for community-focused events and amenities.
Milwaukee is witnessing a flurry of new developments that promise to enhance the cultural and social landscape of the city. Among the most notable projects are a new food truck park opening at the Patio Lounge, a sports bar known as Diaspora Sports Bar and Lounge, and an ambitious housing initiative aimed at providing affordable living options.
A food truck park is set to launch at the Patio Lounge, located at 1329 S. 35th St., under the ownership of Raúl Varela-Rodriguez. This project requires special permitting and inspections to obtain official designation as a food truck park, paralleling the vision of the late Alderman Jonathan Brostoff, who aimed to simplify the process of establishing such parks throughout Milwaukee. For nearly 15 years, Varela-Rodriguez has been operating the patio and views this development as starting anew.
Local Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa is in favor of the park, drawing comparisons to a “mini Zocalo,” a community space enhancing food and social interactions. Currently, the Los Colombianos food truck is stationed at the Patio Lounge, with plans for additional vendors such as El Paraiso Restaurant Bar in the future. The park will observe operational hour restrictions, mandating food trucks to close by 1 a.m.
In another exciting development, Potawatomi Casino Hotel is launching “Gather & Grow,” a pop-up restaurant on September 22 and 23. Featuring seasonal meals sourced from local suppliers, this event will offer residents a unique culinary experience, albeit for a limited time.
Additionally, a new venue, Diaspora Sports Bar and Lounge, is preparing to open at 735 E. Center St., replacing the previous Company Brewing. The partnership behind Diaspora comprises six members: Michael Shaw, Marvin Bailey, Mike Johnson, Phil Pullium, Brian Bradford, and Roberthenry Davis. This establishment seeks to cater to community needs for draft beer, food, and support for hometown sports. However, there are no current plans to resume the previous brewpub operations.
Recent events have cast a shadow over local nightlife, particularly following a significant brawl during an influencer event at a local establishment, Flame 13. This incident has led neighboring businesses to shut down and raised serious safety concerns, prompting the Milwaukee Common Council’s licenses committee to recommend the non-renewal of Flame 13’s operating license.
In further developments, Afterglow Group intends to transform a service building located at 1314 E. Potter Ave. into a taproom and roastery, as confirmed by founder Ryan Castelaz. This project follows the opening of Catrina Cafe’s second location, Catrina Cafe and Cantina, which is set to take over the space formerly occupied by Tulum Latin Gastropub at 2354 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. The original Catrina Cafe operates as a full-service restaurant during the day and transitions into a dance club at night.
The local community is also looking forward to the return of the Hoancoming event on September 18, which will feature a boat parade, a drone display, and a light show at the Hoan Bridge. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include features inspired by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Union Terrace, along with live entertainment.
On the horizon for Milwaukee’s housing sector, New Land Enterprises has put forth a proposal for a new development at 2252 S. 1st St., which anticipates constructing approximately 500 apartments across two large buildings. The aim is to provide affordable living options by restricting rental rates to households earning around 80% of the county’s median income. New Land Enterprises is notable for having previously developed the tallest mass timber building globally and will collaborate with Korb Architecture for this project.
The proposed site aims to attract new residents, along with commercial amenities that will benefit the nearby neighborhoods of Harbor District, Bay View, and Walker’s Point. The potential addition of a grocery store tenant may lead to an increase in the building height from seven to eight stories, with a design extending two concrete levels combined with five stories of apartments.
Overall, these various initiatives reflect a dynamic and evolving landscape in Milwaukee, enhancing both the cultural fabric and living conditions within the community.
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Additional Resources
- Urban Milwaukee: Now Serving a Mini Zocalo for Silver City
- Wikipedia: Milwaukee
- SF Chronicle: Top 100 Best Restaurants San Francisco Bay Area
- Google Search: Milwaukee developments
- The Alpena News: Thunder Bay Junior High Kids Pitch Project Ideas
- Google Scholar: Milwaukee urban development
- KRON4: San Francisco Debuts Bayview Hunters Point Park Project
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Milwaukee food park
- Urban Milwaukee: Developer Plans Large Project on Bay View Harbor District Border
- Google News: Milwaukee community events
Author: STAFF HERE MILWAUKEE WRITER
MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
