Food hall gets key financing win
A neighborhood-oriented food hall coming to Milwaukee’s Uptown Crossing area near the Wauwatosa border has received a key part of its financing package.
The $2.2 million North Avenue Market, 5900 W. North Ave., is being created within a former Associated Bank branch.
The Milwaukee Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit business lender, on Wednesday approved a $1.86 million loan to help finance the purchase of the building and its renovations.
North Avenue Market is being developed by Christopher Harris-Wimsatt.
Around 7,700 square feet of the 9,400-square-foot building will be converted into space for Harris-Wimsatt’s businesses: A Taste of Java coffee shop and Speakeasy Bar and Lounge, according to a MEDC report.
The remaining 1,700 square feet will be converted to space for additional complementary businesses, the report said.
Harris-Wimsatt told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in January that North Avenue Market was to open by August. Those plans have been delayed.
At that time, other vendors were to include a bar, Mosler’s Vault, as well as Sharon’s Table soul food restaurant, Rubryx Coffee Shop, Juana Tacos, Mango’s Cafe and Arty’s Sweet Talk Cupcakes.
North Avenue Market expects to attract most of its customers from such nearby neighborhoods as Uptown Crossing, Washington Heights and East Tosa.
Milwaukee’s other new food halls, which feature local food and beverage vendors, include Crossroads Collective, 2238 N. Farwell Ave., and Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
MEDC on Wednesday also approved a $425,000 loan to help finance the $855,000 Hundred Acre LLC startup indoor farm at Century City Business Park.
Hundred Acre was founded by Chris Corkery, who’s also the founder and chief executive officer of New Yorkbased Planet to Plate Inc. — a branding platform for indoor hydroponic farms.
The Milwaukee farm is growing fresh greens, including holy basil, spring mix and baby kale, within an industrial building at 3945 N. 31st St.