For Brian Miracle, entertainment and food are the two most important things in life. Having started Quasi Theater -- which has since evolved into the successful Quasi Productions -- as a theater major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee seven years ago, he's definitely got the entertainment aspect of his life under wraps.
It was only a matter of time then before he launched into his other love: food. Quasi Café, 1319 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., opened quietly this week, with a big grand opening party set for Friday, March 16.
Miracle and business partner Kyle Leipold met as little kids in Neenah, Wis., met up again after college and now co-own the cozy, brightly painted coffee shop housed in the first floor of Bucketworks, a building comprised of art, theater, dance and other creative endeavors.
"I always loved the word 'quasi,'" says Miracle. "It means 'seemingly,' which makes it this all encompassing thing, so Quasi Café is very accurate right now because we're not technically a café, we're a kiosk inside Bucketworks."
The café offers Alterra coffee, espresso drinks and bakery as well as a variety of salads, specialty sandwiches and wraps priced between $5 and $6.
What makes the café unique is its placement in the arts building and Miracle's vision to marry the café with Buketworks' events. He's turned the west wall into windows that don't show outdoors, but rather give guests a great view of the stage in the large directly behind the café. He plans to incorporate a closed circuit of screens above the booths that allow people to watch the stage performances as well as check out what's happening in other parts of the building.
"I think it's really motivating," says Miracle. "You come in and get your coffee and sandwich on your lunch break, but you signed up for a sandwich and yoga. It's $15 for a half-hour yoga class and then you eat a healthy sandwich. Or maybe it's the week when we're doing Japanese films from the '50s and then on the big screen you'd have this video and you can watch it when you eat. There'll be art everywhere and it's just a massive getaway from the workday."
Artwork by local artist Hans Viets lines the walls and Miracle mentions that he's aiming his space to double as a gallery. In the vein of Starbucks' budding production endeavors, Quasi Café will team with Quasi Productions -- which works with writers, actors, choreographers and artists of multi media -- to facilitate a working promotion company of sorts.
"The new idea is that when you walk into a café you realize that it's also an agency and a production company. That's exciting. So when people are sitting here talking about stuff they can actually bring it to action.. We're going to put in cameras that people can pull down and use for teleconferences and interviews."
But first things first. Miracle and Leipold are gearing up for Quasi Café's grand opening party this Friday, March 16 from 7 p.m. to midnight with bands Elatia, The Plainsmen and E-Vive.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
