A Cousins Subs franchisee plans to open another Cousins restaurant at 789 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee, just 2-1/2 blocks south of a Cousins location at 1020 N. Water St. in the 1000 North Water building.
The franchisee, Cheri Bourdo, said the density of office workers in downtown Milwaukee will provide enough business for two Cousins locations to succeed in such close proximity.
"It’s hard for people to walk more than three blocks downtown for lunch," she said. "The rent is good. As long as your expenses are in order, there’s money to be made down there."
Bourdo plans to open the restaurant in the 2,828-square-foot space at 789 N. Water St. in February. The space has been vacant since Randstad moved its office from there to 250 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Bourdo owns another Cousins restaurant downtown at 324 E. Wisconsin Ave. That restaurant gets so busy at lunchtime that many potential customers walk away deterred by long lines, she said.
"They think, ‘I only have 30 minutes (for lunch), there’s no way,’" Bourdo said.
Bourdo said she is also thinking about opening Cousins locations on the East Side and in the Historic Third Ward.
Menomonee Falls-based Cousins Submarines Inc. has about 160 locations in 10 states.
