Valentine Coffee Company will be the newest tenant at Barrett Lo’s Emerald Row, a mixed-use development located at the corner of Drexel and Howell Avenues in Oak Creek which will include retail outlets along with luxury residential apartments.
The forecasted opening for the new coffee shop is late fall or early winter.
The venue will occupy approximately 1,700 square feet of stand-alone retail space and will include a first level and mezzanine, seating approximately 48. An additional 52 seats will grace a patio fronting Drexel Town Square, a development reminiscent of a traditional downtown – including a main street, new city hall and library which are situated on a town square, surrounded by retail stores, restaurants, shops, businesses and apartments.
"First and foremost, we love their coffee," said Rick Barrett, founder of Barrett Lo Visionary Development, "We’re excited that Valentine Coffee shares our vision for bringing urban amenities to Emerald Row and has decided to expand its Milwaukee operation into Oak Creek."
The Oak Creek shop will be the second location for Valentine Coffee Co., which currently operates its roastery and tasting room at 5918 W. Vliet St.
"We are creating more than just another coffee shop; it’s a place for neighbors to gather – whether over a meal, a cup of coffee or a glass of beer or wine," said Robb Kashevarof, founder and owner of Valentine Coffee. "We will also have a selection of fresh, locally sourced menu items for neighbors to take along to work for the day, to the adjacent square or bring home."
Valentine's Oak Creek location will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The shop plans to serve simple from scratch fare with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. In addition to its small batch specialty coffee, it will also serve a curated selection of wine and beer.
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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “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 recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.