Food/Drink Roundup: Central Standard opening in airport, Twisted Plants closing in Cudahy

In this installment of our bi-weekly Food/Drink Roundup: Central Standard Craft Distillery is opening soon in Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, and Twisted Plants is closing soon in Cudahy.

• In case you missed it, Central Standard Craft Distillery is opening a new Crafthouse & Kitchen in Concourse C of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. The big news from the downtown distillery (and the charming airport) was announced back in March. Here’s what the site looked like last week:

“Located on Concourse C, the 1,069-square-foot dining establishment will feature 51 seats around the bar and drink rail, offering a welcoming space for guests to enjoy signature cocktails and a selection of bestselling dishes from the original restaurant,” a press release from March explained. “The new Crafthouse & Kitchen is slated to open in September, delivering the same dedication to quality, innovation and hospitality that defines Central Standard.”

A recent license application, however, lists December 1, 2025 as the current proposed opening date.

Rendering: Central Standard Craft Distillery

• Five years after opening its first brick-and-mortar location at 4905 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy, vegan restaurant Twisted Plants announced earlier this week that it will soon close the location. The last day of service in Cudahy will be Saturday, September 27. Twisted Plants’ other locations—one on Brady Street, the other in West Allis—will remain open.

“Running a restaurant is no easy road […] some days tears, some days forced smiles,” owners Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne wrote on social media Monday. “But through it all—the love from our day ones, fellow business owners, and every single customer old & new kept us going. For that, we say THANK YOU.”

Twisted Plants began its life as a food truck in 2019. It set up permanent shop in Cudahy in the spring of 2020—in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Packard Avenue building was previously occupied by the Cudahy Burger Joint.

“You’ve got two weeks to come Get Twisted before we say goodbye to Cudahy,” Monday’s goodbye message continued. “Stay tuned…the journey continues!”

Want a further taste/sip of the new food/drink places being planned for Milwaukee? Then buckle up for Tales From The City’s License Application Search…

• A bar that “caters to 40 and older patrons” called Martin’s Nest is planned for 2712 N. MLK Dr., in the former Lux Bar & Lounge. Proposed opening date: October 1, 2025. [PDF]

• A Tropical Smoothie Cafe is still planned for 2575 N. Downer Ave., in the remaining section of the long-empty Chancery. What’s in the other section? SereniTea Lounge! Which serves boba! And smoothies! Proposed opening date for the Tropical Smoothie Cafe: October 1, 2025. [PDF]

All of the above proposed businesses are just that—proposed—and are subject to city approval. Here’s a Weird Al song about food: