By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Sep 06, 2008 at 5:01 AM

Café Centraal, located at the intersection of Kinnickinnic and Lincoln Avenues in Bay View, will hold its grand opening Sept. 17.

Centraal, operated by Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group, will carry on the themes of the other European-styled cafes -- Trocadero, Café Hollander and Fat Abbey Biercafe.

Centraal draws its inspiration from grand city center train stations, and the architecture and décor are designed to evoke the urban transportation motif.

"My partner and I first looked at the building over a year ago and were inspired by the European feel that the intersection could provide," co-owner Mike Eitel said.

"Visually, it seems like it should be a major transit hub, connecting so many interesting neighborhoods -- and begging for a light rail station to truly become ‘Downtown Bay View.'"

Built of salvaged cream city brick, abandoned doors and a mid-1800s ballroom floor, Centraal's bar is the focal point of the café. It stretches nearly the length of the building, enticing patrons to sit and partake of a Diablos Rojos trademark -- a selection of Belgian and Dutch beers.

Centraal's menu will be similar to those at Fat Abbey and Café Hollander, but will feature other specialties such as the "Bay View Burger." The restaurant will serve sandwiches, entrees, vegetarian items and Belgian frites with dipping sauces. Centraal will be open for lunch and dinner daily and will serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

"With all of the development happening in the Bay View neighborhood, we felt like one of our Grand Cafés in this iconic building would act as a perfect gathering place for residents -- day or night," Eitel said.

"We have seen that a great neighborhood gathering place literally brings in the local residents multiple times a week or even a couple times each day.

"A regular might come in for an espresso in the morning, a late lunch and wrap up their day with friends and a few glasses of beer -- all in the same day."

Café Centraal will feature an "urban" courtyard, separated from the interior by a glass and steel garage door. The courtyard will feature a fountain and imported electric heaters that will extend the outdoor dining season.

Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.