5XEN Super Asian Market, 6300 N. 76th St., which boasts food, dining and other retails vendors selling clothes, jewelry, cell phones, health and beauty supplies and more, along with some office and event space, is planning a large expansion and on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council approved a necessary zoning change that will allow a $20 million expansion plan to advance.
The market currently boasts 24 retailers and eight commercial kitchens.
This zoning change, which was recommended for approval earlier in the year by the City Plan Commission, allows for the property to be combined with one at 6270 N. 76th St., providing space for a three-story, 35,000-square-foot addition.
The project will add two more commercial kitchens for carryout or dining in the market's seating area, as well as new and improved meeting and event space for weddings and parties, as well as a supermarket with Asian foods and general groceries.
A rendering of the plan, taken from the 5XEN Facebook page, can be seen above.
“This project moving forward is great news for the market and for the surrounding area,” said Ald. Cavalier Johnson, in whose district the complex lies.
“The market will greatly improve its visibility, and it will see new amenities while significantly expanding the amount and range of commerce that is taking place there. I am very pleased and excited to see the project move forward.”
Johnson explained that Tuesday's approval is of an ordinance changing the zoning from Industrial Light, IL1, to Detailed Planned Development, DPD.
The expansion project is expected to break ground early next year with an expected completion in July.
According to the company's website, "The name 5XEN, is a take on the traditional Hmong word 'xeem' that translates to English as 'clan' or 'family'.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
