World of Beer, a growing chain that has sold 128 franchises in 11 states, is coming to 1300 E. Brady St., a corner location most recently occupied by Detour. Detour closed in 2010. The building is owned by Julilly Kohler.
Founded in 2007 by two friends from Pensacola, Fla., Scott Zepp and Matt LaFon, World of Beer opened its first bar and retail establishment in Tampa.
According to a recent story on the St. Petersburg Times' tampabay.com, "Each World of Beer has brick accents, black, high-back bar stools and a dark and shiny bar. Two-door coolers highlight the vast selection of brews. The pubs have 40 taps and more than 500 bottled beers from all over the world. Live music is a staple."
World of Beer doesn’t serve food but works with area restaurant in its other markets to cater and provide patrons with food.
The local franchisee lead is Greendale native Adam Chwala. A UW-Parkside grad, Chwala has lived in Tampa since graduation and is partnering with Jeff Ferchoff, owner of Ferch's Malt Shoppe & Grill in Greendale and Mark Kuglitsch, owner of Lincoln Avenue Dental Group, S.C., and of Kuglitsch's bowling alley fame.
According to the St. Petersburg Times, "World of Beer franchises cost $50,000 per location and pay a 5 percent royalty of net sales. A franchisee needs a minimum of $125,000 in liquid assets, a net worth of more than $750,000 and a minimum credit score of 680."
Chwala and his partners have secured an area development agreement from World of Beer. This gives them the rights to five locations in the area, but Chwala says he hopes to open 10-20 World of Beers in the state in the next 3-5 years.
The Brady Street location is, Chwala told us by phone from Tampa, "Perfect. It's a corner unit, and we're going to open it up and make it as inviting as possible.
"World of Beers have great, local neighborhood feels," added Chwala, saying that the location would add patio seating and garage doors.
World of Beer is opening in Columbus, Ohio, in September. The Milwaukee location should be open "around January," said Chwala.
World of Beer currently has 13 locations and seven more under construction in Florida. New locations are are coming to Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and, of course, Wisconsin.
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.
