By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Apr 05, 2016 at 2:05 PM

TomKen’s Friendly Fried Chicken, 8001 W. Greenfield Ave., will host a relaunch party on Saturday, April 9 to celebrate the massive remodel of the space that was completed earlier this year.

The fun will include a free sampling of new menu items, including fried pickle chips, lamb sliders on pretzel buns and fried Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds.

"We will also have wings with new sauces, but I haven't determined what those will be yet," says co-owner and chef Brian Felten.

Felten has created more than 350 sauces for the popular West Allis-based bar and restaurant that his father, the late Ken Felten, took over in 1991

The relaunch party starts at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., Ale Asylum will offer a free beer sampling and at 9, Felten’s mother, owner Shelly Felten, will make a MillerCoors toast. Bud Light reps will also be on site giving away free swag.

Music will be provided by DJ Jason Vespalec.

The remodel
includes a new kitchen that’s twice as large as the old one and now located on the south side of the building. By moving the kitchen into former living quarters, the bar and dining space is bigger and more open, with 36 more dining seats available, an expanded bar with built-in cell phone ports and 16-foot ceilings.

The bathrooms were also renovated and are now wheelchair-accessible. Other upgrades include repainted walls, LED lighting and butcher-block-topped tables.

TomKen’s also added new tap lines and increased their beer selection to include more local and craft brews.

"We have so many people to thank," says Felten. "Raylyn Construction is at the top of the list, but there are so many people to thank who helped us through the growing pains of the construction. Now let's celebrate with some tasty food, good drinks and great friends."


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.