Andy Noble grew up spending time with his musician / art collector / chef parents at various establishments on Milwaukee’s East Side and remembers it as a very creative, alternative neighborhood.

This summer, Noble plans to contribute to this vibe when he and his partners open Strange Town in the former Allium, 2101 N. Prospect Ave.

"I always loved the uniqueness of this place," says Noble. "I remember it as a gathering place of intellectuals, Bohemians and artists – I want to bring back more of that culture."

Noble – along with his brother Tom and cousin Mia LeTendre – hopes to open the new bar and eatery by the end of the summer.

"July would be ideal, but by the end of summer, for sure," says Noble.

Strange Town – which is named after a Jam song and also a nod to the way Noble perceived the East Side neighborhood as a young child – will specialize in organic and low-or-no sulfate wine and aperitifs. A simple cocktail menu, craft beer selection and dairy / meat-free food will also be available.

LeTendre has many years of experience working in Milwaukee kitchens, including the Riverwest Co-op Cafe. Andy was a cook at HiFi for eight years. 

"I learned a lot from Sage (the owner of HiFi at the time)," says Noble.

The Noble brothers are musicians, DJs and promoters who owned Lotus Land Records in Riverwest for 10 years, as well as the Lotus Land record label. Andy has also run The Get Down – a funk and soul party primarily based at the Mad Planet – for 13 years. Tom owns a record store in Brooklyn and will split his time between New York City and Milwaukee.

Hence, it's no surprise that music will be a priority at Strange Town. According to Andy, they will only spin records and will not have TVs.

"We want the experience to be about socializing," says Andy.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for a First Look at Strange Town when it becomes available.