Note: Zyng has already come and gone. It closed in early December 2004.
{image1} After 15 years in the current location, Bill DeLind will move his gallery, DeLind Fine Art, from 811 N. Jefferson St. to 756 N. Milwaukee St.
When he arrived on Jefferson Street it was far from the happening hub it is today.
"I'm not a person who sits back and waits for things to happen," says DeLind, who went on to help start Jazz in the Park, the Jefferson Street Merchant's Association and the East Town Farm Market.
Although he worked hard to create and promote the present-day lively scene around Cathedral Square, he is ready to move to Milwaukee Street, another downtown strip that's reveling in a renaissance.
DeLind will open the doors to his new gallery on April 1. He says the new space is as casual as the old space, but more elegant and only about 500 square feet smaller -- 2,500 square feet instead of 3,000.
His admits his move is partially due to an increase in rent.
"My lease was up and the value of the (Jefferson Street) property had increased so much ... I decided I didn't need so much space," he says.
The successful art dealer will continue to work with many of the same artists, but will "take a good hard look at what I have and make some minor adjustments." The gallery will remain committed to specializing in turn-of-the-century artworks and fine quality paintings.
"I'm very lucky to be on the corner of Mason and Milwaukee. It's a lively spot," says DeLind, who was born and raised outside of Lansing, Mich., but moved to Milwaukee in 1969.
Zyng Asian Grill, a franchise out of Alexandria, Va., will move into DeLind Gallery's old space some time this summer. Zyng, an Asian-inspired restaurant with a funky market atmosphere, specializes in dishes from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Korea.
Zyng will join other successful eateries in the neighborhood including Flannery's, Elsa's and Louise's.
When DeLind first opened his gallery there were only three others in the downtown neighborhood: his, Irving Gallery and David Barnett. Today, there are scads more but DeLind says, "Surprisingly we're all pretty good friends."
Over the years -- and now more than ever -- the restaurants and galleries have been mutually dependant on one another and equally as responsible for the revitalization of the downtown area.
"The overall awareness of more people in Milwaukee recognizing the value of having art in their lives has increased so much since I came here," says DeLind. "There's been a tremendous growth of what's available as well as people's appreciation of what's available."
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
