Parklets first appeared in Milwaukee in 2013, and more and more pop up in front of bars and restaurants every year. Parklets are patios that extend into the street and provide outdoor drinking and dining. They are also often aesthetically pleasing, adorned with colorful paintings, plants and lights.
Some neighborhoods, like Walker's Point, is home to many parklets. In fact, on South Second Street, there are a half dozen parklets within a three-block radius. Bay View, the East Side and Shorewood also have a few.
Nat Davauer had a parklet installed of his newest bar Pomeroy, 723 S. 2nd St. He's had one in front of Draft & Vessel in Shorewood for eight years.
"It helps a lot with providing the outdoor seating that's in such desperate demand during summer in Milwaukee. Especially for a place that doesn't have its own private outdoor patio space," says Davauer.
Outdoor drinking and dining season is brief in Milwaukee, so the addition of parklets are welcome by many. The downside is they sometimes occupy parking spaces. But personally, I'll take a parklet over parking any day!
Here are a bunch of parklets to check out this spring, summer and fall:
Black Sheep MKE
216 S. 2nd St., (414) 223-0903
blacksheepmke.com
Centraal Grand Cafe & Tappery
2306 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 755-0378
cafecentraal.com
Crafty Cow/Hot Head Fried Chicken
2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 808-0481
craftycowwi.com
Indeed Brewing
530 S. 2nd St., (414) 216-9007
indeedbrewing.com
Izzy Hops/L'incontro/Ramen Sushi
2300 block of Murray Avenue
La Cage Niteclub
801 S. 2nd St., (414) 383-8330
lacage.club
Pomeroy
723 S. 2nd St.
pomeroymke.com
Shaker's Cigar Bar
422 S. 2nd St., (414) 272-4222
shakerscigarbar.com
The Stone
2422 S. Howell Ave.
More on The Stone here.
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.
