It’s salient to steal some of the opening words of an article written by Molly Snyder in December 2011:
"When David Kressin and April Woelfel opened their cozy bar and restaurant called The Noble, 704 S. 2nd St., their goal was simple.
‘We were going to quietly open our doors and quietly feed the neighborhood,’ says Kressin."
But, their "quiet" opening turned out to cause quiet a stir. And curious diners from around the city flocked to this homey old-fashioned spot to take part in the dining revolution that the two restaurateurs had created.
The restaurant has been bustling ever since – filling its 30-35 seats nightly, and serving up a popular service industry brunch on Monday mornings. Its challenge? Meeting the needs of its many raving fans.
Today, The Noble faces a new challenge. The restaurant's landlord seeks to sell the building in which it is housed. In fact, there won’t be any firm renewals on the 2-year lease, which is up May 1, and will switch at that point to a month-t0-month until the building is sold.
As co-owner David Kressin puts it, "The Noble is reaching the end of this borrowed time."
Kressin seeks to purchase the building, which would give the restaurant much-needed space for expansion, as well as the security of knowing that it has a true home in Walker’s Point.
The kicker? The owners need a bit of assistance coming up with the down payment.
So, they’ve done what many restaurants these days are doing. They’ve looked to crowd sourcing to assist in raising the necessary funds to make their dreams come true.
"If we can succeed in raising enough money from our generous and supportive ‘family’ for part of the mortgage down payment, we can continue to grow," Kressin writes.
"We can utilize the entire building to continue giving you the best experience we can possibly give."
Contribution perks include free admission for two to a fundraising speak-easy party, free entrees, recognition on a plaque in the restaurant, "Rock Star" dinner reservations for four, and, at the $1,000 level, a special private catered dinner party for six, either at your home or The Noble.
Visit The Noble IndieGoGo campaign online, and help "Save The Noble."
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
