By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Aug 02, 2019 at 4:30 PM Photography: Lori Fredrich

As the saying goes: change is the only constant.

And that’s an apt description of the scene at Interval, the innovative cafe at 1600 N. Jackson St.

Effective this week, cafe owner Ryan Hoban and Chef Travis Cook have parted ways. And Hoban says that, after nearly a year of operation, he’s moving the cafe forward in accordance with his original vision.

"My original intention was to open a cafe which offered coffee service and some menu items during the day, cocktails during the evening hours and a variety of pop-up events on evenings and weekends," he says.

"While I enjoy restaurants and genuinely appreciate the efforts that go into those experiences, I never intended to own a restaurant. And, as I stepped back and looked at what Interval had become, it began to look more and more like that’s the direction we were headed. I felt like we had lost a bit of our original vision."

The decision wasn’t financial, Hoban notes. "We were filling the space every night and people were having a lot of fun. But we needed to make some changes to really bring things back into focus."

Hoban says that daytime cafe operations will continue as they always have. However, in the weeks ahead, they will make efforts to expand breakfast and lunch offerings.

"Travis [Cook] really helped us to curate an elevated daytime food menu," says Hoban. "And we’ll keep a portion of that; but we also expect to add some additional items more like what you’d traditionally find in a coffee shop or cafe."

In lieu of dinner service Wednesday through Saturday, Hoban says guests can look forward to a menu of cocktails and snacks, along with periodic pop-up events spear-headed by any number of area chefs.

"The pop-ups might be for one night, or an entire weekend," he says. "Or we might host someone for a slightly longer period of time. Either way, it will be all about giving people something new and surprising. What we really want to offer people are amazing, unique experiences that are beautiful and yet messy. Satisfying, yet temporary."

Travis Cook declined to comment on his immediate plans, but indicated that folks can follow him on Instagram at TravisCookMKE for updates. 

Currently, Interval is open Sunday through Tuesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday, 7 to 3 and 5 to 10 p.m.

Beginning Aug. 19, Hoban says the hours will be extended. New hours will be: Monday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.