Wild Planet Hospitality Group today announced a partnership with ROC Ventures to operate The Pub Club, 1103 N. Old World 3rd St. and Red, White & Blue, 1044 N. Old World 3rd St.
Mike Zimmerman, owner and CEO of ROC Ventures, whose Downtown hospitality properties include The Pub Club and Red White & Blue, pursued this alliance as a part of a strategic plan to continue with the positioning of Old World 3rd as a vibrant new entertainment district.
In addition to crowd-drawing sports and entertainment events, the Bucks anticipate an additional 20-plus large venue concerts per year in the new arena. High-profile events such as these will draw a new demographic to the area and will attract people from the suburbs and outlying areas such as Madison and Green Bay, as well as providing regional and national tourism opportunities.
For that reason, Zimmerman approached Wild Planet owners Drew Deuster, J.J. Kovacovich, and Phil Erno, who have a long and successful track record in owning and managing food and beverage locations, to bring their expertise to the table.
Noted Zimmerman: "Aside from our belief that Old World 3rd Street will continue to become a major entertainment neighborhood, partnering with a proven operator like Wild Planet and their larger portfolio of stores provides great short- and long-term opportunities to both parties."
Zimmerman and ROC Ventures plan to continue investing in food and beverage ventures that are oriented around sports, entertainment and community.
"From my experience, when you create things that bring people together, it creates community and further opportunities for all. We've based all of our activity on that basic formula: return on community (ROC)," said Zimmerman.
Speaking on behalf of Wild Planet, managing partner Drew Deuster states he and his partners are delighted to be working with Zimmerman and ROC Ventures in developing an enhanced strategy while taking over operation of these two well-established venues.
"With the influx of new people attracted to the Downtown area, there is a tremendous growth opportunity for food and beverage operators," stated Deuster. "Combining the talent, resources, and experience that ROC Ventures and Wild Planet Hospitality Group bring to the partnership, we see a great opportunity for our employees and customers, not to mention becoming a key piece to the growth and development of Downtown Milwaukee," Deuster added.
With the addition of The Pub Club and Red White & Blue assets to its portfolio, Wild Planet will oversee a collection of 10 food and beverage properties including McGillycuddy’s, Red Rock Saloon locations in Milwaukee and Madison, DiModa Pizza (formerly Trocadero), The Brass Alley, Evolution and The View at Evolution, and The Lake House at The Kenosha Yacht Club.
ROC Ventures has over 15 businesses in sports, entertainment, and real estate including the Milwaukee Wave, the Rock Sports Complex, the PNC Milwaukee Marathon and the Ballpark Commons development in Franklin.
