Crossroads Collective will close May 8, “local restaurant” will expand into space

Sad/hopeful news: East Side food hall Crossroads Collective, 2238 N. Farwell Ave., will close its doors for good on Thursday, May 8. However, an unnamed “local restaurant” will apparently expand into the space.

Crossroads posted this message to social media on Tuesday:

On May 8th, Crossroads Collective will close our doors.

Since opening, we’ve had the honor of hosting passionate vendors, welcoming thousands of guests, and helping launch businesses that have gone on to grow in big ways. The energy and creativity of this corner of the East Side has always come from the people and we’re proud to have been a part of it.

Now it’s time to pass the torch to a local restaurant expanding into the space, a move that reflects what Crossroads has always stood for: giving small businesses a place to grow.

All programming will proceed as planned and our vendors will continue full service through May 8th. Be sure to follow our vendors on social media to keep up with what they have in store for you next!

There’s still time to come support your favorite vendors, grab a drink at the Pharmacy Bar, and give Crossroads an epic send-off.

Shanghai MKE, the “secret” speakeasy located between Crossroads and Black Cat Alley, is not closing.

New Land Enterprises owns the Crossroads building (and surrounding buildings). New Land marketing director Jodi Hogerton tells OnMilwaukee that “we weren’t planning to close Crossroads, but a local restaurant business approached New Land looking for a location to expand their current operations…As it turns out, Crossroads had everything they were looking for, and this is what we do—help good businesses find homes.”

In an Instagram comment, Crossroads says “while we can’t share the details [of the new restaurant], that exciting news will be announced soon. That will be their story to tell!”

Crossroads Collective opened on the corner of North and Farwell in late 2018. (Longtime Milwaukeeans will remember the space as the former home of Oriental Drugs pharmacy.) At its height, Crossroads hosted more than a half dozen vendors—some of them short-lived, others longer-lived. In recent months, however, the space has been noticeably barren; a section of the food hall that once housed three vendor slots has been completely walled over.

We’ll have more information as this story develops.