The "all-American bar and grill" Cadillac Ranch (no affiliation apparently to the long-lost Farwell Avenue tavern of the same name. -ed.) is coming soon to Wisconsin Avenue in Downtown Milwaukee.
In a space and newer building at 211 W. Wisconsin Ave., across the street from a still vacant space that once housed a Taco Bell, Saladmaker and most recently Aladdin, this big-concept music, entertainment and event venue should help continue to brand Downtown Milwaukee with destination status. It may also continue to help clean up West Wisconsin Avenue.
While the mid-'90s country bar craze has more than left the building, country music is strong in the Milwaukee area and, in Cincinnati, Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill has helped transform the old notion of the country bar with its bar and grill concepts, while also improving the area around it. The Cincinnati location was part of a $16.5 million renovation plan from Fifth Third Bank at the city's Fountain Square.
With other locations in Tempe, Arizona and Nashville, Tennessee, Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill seems to be a dining, drinking and entertainment type place. The Tempe location has a full-scale Cadillac on top of its building and is promoted with the following text on its Web site, "Offering the best country, rock and party hits and the baddest mechanical bull in town. Catch all your favorite sports on our multiple plasma TVs and enjoy dining on our large outdoor patio."
Again, according to cadillacranchhome.com, "Cadillac Ranch is open seven days a week lunch, dinner and late night fun. We serve sizzling southwestern steaks, overstuffed sandwiches and burgers, pasta dishes, huge appetizers and a lot more. Stop in and ride baddest mechanical bull in town. Every night our DJ kicks up the sounds system and plays the best rock, new country hits, 80s, and everyone's party favorites at night. We have a huge outdoor patio overlooking the center of the district in the marketplace. Come watch our over twenty flat screen TVs, so you'll never miss any of the favorite sports games."
While we don't know additional details, other than there's a signed lease at the 211 W. Wisconsin Ave. space that was brokered by Siegel-Gallagher, we do know that another Downtown entertainment option is good for the city. Cadillac Ranch's presence also could help recruit additional tenants for some of the vacant spaces along West Wisconsin Avenue.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
