The northern part of Bay View is in full-on renaissance mode, with successful businesses like Lulu, Highbury Pub, Harry W. Schwartz, Hi-Fi and Stone Creek Coffee (among others) anchoring the neighborhood. A little farther south and east, though, it's been more slow-going. You've got your Palm Tavern, Lee's Lounge and The Groove quietly going about their business -- and now the Anodyne Café, 2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., can throw its hat into the ring. For under-caffeinated Bay Viewers, that's a good thing.
It's only been open for a few weeks, and Tuesday morning I stopped in for the first time. It still feels really new -- a little spartan and maybe even a bit cavernous. It lacks the hominess of its Brady Street counterpart, though I have faith it'll get there.
Fortunately, the coffee was good and strong, and the staff was friendly and inviting. It has a small but tasty menu, and you can tell that regulars are slowing starting to flock to the simple but clean corner storefront.
At the very least, it offered a nice, change of pace from the Starbucks on the corner of KK and Oklahoma. As it comes into its own, I'm confident that the café will become a welcome part of the neighborhood. And to Anodyne, I say just that: welcome -- here's another former East Sider who's glad you're here.
It's only been open for a few weeks, and Tuesday morning I stopped in for the first time. It still feels really new -- a little spartan and maybe even a bit cavernous. It lacks the hominess of its Brady Street counterpart, though I have faith it'll get there.
Fortunately, the coffee was good and strong, and the staff was friendly and inviting. It has a small but tasty menu, and you can tell that regulars are slowing starting to flock to the simple but clean corner storefront.
At the very least, it offered a nice, change of pace from the Starbucks on the corner of KK and Oklahoma. As it comes into its own, I'm confident that the café will become a welcome part of the neighborhood. And to Anodyne, I say just that: welcome -- here's another former East Sider who's glad you're here.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
