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Milwaukee's Central Standard Craft Distillery has announced a second Crafthouse & Kitchen location, this one on Concourse C at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
The distillery, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, has its main production facility on West Clybourn Avenue, and a first Crafthouse & Kitchen at 320 E. Clybourn Ave.
The new airport location – opened in partnership with airport food and beverage provider SSP America, which also did the design work – is expected to open in September and the 1,069-square-foot food and beverage venue will have 51 seats around a four-sided bar and along an adjacent drinks rail.
Based on renderings provided by the airport, the location will also offer bottles to take away.
The kitchen will serve a menu with some of the original crafthouse location's offerings and, the bar will, of course, feature Central Standard's cocktail recipes.
“Crafthouse & Kitchen is more than just a restaurant – it embodies the energy and flavor of Milwaukee,” says Airport Director Brian Dranzik. “Welcoming Central Standard to the Airport is just the beginning and we’re excited to continue elevating the MKE Airport experience with our partner, SSP America.”
Central Standard products will also be represented in the airport's other bars and restaurants, which will serve the distillery's spirits, and in retail shops, which will have bottles for purchase.
“The airport is an incredible partner to work with and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity,” says Central Standard co-founder Evan Hughes.
“Whether travelers are arriving or departing, we want to create a memorable first impression of the city and share the craft quality that defines us.”
The airport has, in recent years, worked with a number of local businesses, such as Bartolotta Restaurant Group and Colectivo, to bring a Milwaukee flavor to the food and beverage options on the concourses.
“The craftsmanship that defines our downtown experience will soon be right at the departure gate, making this a pivotal moment for us,” said Jim Kanter, chief commercial officer at Central Standard Craft Distillery.
“We’re proud to offer an authentic taste of Milwaukee, whether guests are enjoying a handcrafted cocktail at our new location or picking up a bottle to go.”
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.
