The sign reads: "To our loyal customers and friends: It is with regret that we announce that, as of Monday, October 2, 2006, Vivo Urban Grill will be closed. Thank you for your patronage and support, we look forward to new endeavors and to serving you in the future."
Calls to owner Al Balda have gone unreturned. Swig co-owner Joe Sorge confirms the closing saying, “We (Swig) have been sent two parties, with very little notice, over the last three days via referrals from Vivo." "It is very disappointing," Sorge added. "It's restaurants like Vivo that make this city and more specifically downtown more appealing and more diverse."
Located in the old John Ernst Café, Balda opened Vivo in November 2003. At the time, he told an OnMilwaukee.com reporter that it was "A dream come true."
Two other businesses, Chipotle Mexican Grill to the west and Panera Bread Company to the east flanked Vivo in a 10,000 sq. ft. building.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
