King Drive business district
Plans for a second new restaurant on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee have been advanced with approval of financing through the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp.
Minority entrepreneur Glen Davis was approved for a loan of $105,745 to help start a three-in-one restaurant on King Drive at Vine Street.
The three-in-one concept is the business model of West Bend restaurateur Martinez Brown, who operates under the business name IBOC – In Business Of Consumers. (See his story in the Dec. 22, 2000 issue of SBT, or at www.biztimes.com.)
Brown’s restaurant, at 1072 Gateway Ct. in the Paradise Plaza on West Bend’s growing south side, includes Big Mouth Pizza and Pasta, Grandma’s Goodies, and Wrap City in the setting of a mini food court.
The King Drive site, on the northwest corner of the intersection, is part of Brown’s effort to expand the concept into Milwaukee and other markets. Two other locations are in the works, Hartford and the Racine area, Brown said. “We’ll get those three up and running and stabilized, and then develop a master plan for beyond that,” Brown said. Other potential Milwaukee locations include the Amtrak station downtown and Gen. Mitchell International Airport, he said.
The Milwaukee, Hartford and Racine restaurants will be operated under a licensing agreement with IBOC, Brown said.
Davis will offer seated dining and carryout and delivery services. He plans to open by the end of August of the first week in September. Legacy Bank is also providing financing for the operation.
Davis had been considering operation of a Subway restaurant at 35th and North in the city. “I had it all lined up,” he said. But after the pastor of his church introduced him to Brown, Davis said he reconsidered. “I was very impressed with Martinez Brown’s operation,” Davis said. He then came to see the King Drive location as being more economically viable at this time.
Mayor John Norquist praised the development. “With the renaissance occurring on King Drive, there is an increased demand for a wider variety of goods and services,” the mayor said. “This food operation will make a great neighborhood more active and viable.” Norquist noted that along with the residential population, more than 3,000 people work in the nearby Schlitz Park. “Other entrepreneurs should take a closer look at Milwaukee neighborhoods to take advantage of the business opportunities that exist,” he said.
“With all the homes and businesses in the area, the potential is there for good business,” Davis said.
Plans had earlier been announced for a Ponderosa Steak House on King Drive, north of North Avenue. A delicatessen operates about a half a block south of Davis’s location.
Contractors will spend the next six weeks building out the 2,025-square-foot facility for Davis.
Once open, he will promote the carry-out segment of the business and will offer delivery to area businesses. Eventually, he’d like to offer catering services to area businesses.
Davis has restaurant experience, but for the last 18 years has been a Walgreens manager. His son Kendrick will be his “right-hand man” in the new operation. The two have been training in the operation at the West Bend restaurant.
Davis said he will employ 14 to 20 employees.
MEDC’s loan and finance committee approved five other loans in addition to the Glen Davis project. They are as follows:
July 20, 2001 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
