Looking for a roundup of Milwaukee food and drink news? Then take a bite of our cleverly titled, bi-weekly Food/Drink Roundup! This week: Why are Dairyland and Mid-Way Bakery leaving 3rd St. Market Hall?
• Last week, Milwaukee media outlets (including yours truly) ran the news that Dairyland and Mid-Way Bakery were soon exiting 3rd St. Market Hall, and that a new burger-and-ice-cream joint, Bebe Zito, would be taking their place. “We’d like to thank the Dairyland team for being a part of our journey at 3rd St. Market Hall,” said 3rd St. Market Hall’s Omar Shaikh in a statement. “Dairyland and Mid-Way were two of our anchor tenants when we opened and we’re thankful they shared their talent and delicious food with all of us. We wish them the best.”
Sad news, but pretty normal, right? Restaurants exit food halls all the time. It’s not like Dairyland and Mid-Way had their lease terminated or anything, right?
“The businesses are leaving after their lease was terminated,” reports the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Here’s the deal:
Dairyland, a burger and custard concept, and related company Mid-Way Bakery were anchors at 3rd St. Market Hall since it opened in 2022 in downtown Milwaukee. Their final day at the food hall will be June 28, said Dairyland partner Joe McCormick.
The businesses are leaving after their lease was terminated, McCormick said.
That lease has originally based the rent payment on a percentage of sales, but Dairyland had renegotiated the terms to a flat rate. A clause in the contract allowed the food hall to end the lease if another tenant that would pay more emerged.
So there you go. And it should be noted that while Bebe Zito is based in Minneapolis, co-owner Gabriella Grant graduated from MIAD and spent subsequent years living in Milwaukee. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Lupi & Iris owners Adam Siegel and Daria Aitken-Siegel plan to open a “New York-style” Italian restaurant on the first floor of the Northwestern Mutual North Building, 818 E. Mason St., in late 2026. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Highly anticipated Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Purslane is open now in the former Ardent space, 1751 N. Farwell Ave. [OnMilwaukee]
• A new restaurant and bar, Mitchell Market, is coming this summer to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Located in Concourse D, Mitchell Market will feature “a casual menu of breakfast items, appetizers, pizza and sandwiches.” [Urban Milwaukee]
• The dog-friendly Riley’s Bar + Burger, 100 E. Montana St., is open now. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Jamaican restaurant Uppa Yard plans to open a second location in the former Buffalo Wild Wings space at 1123 N. Water St. [Urban Milwaukee]
• A new bakery, Poppy Bakery, will open June 14 in the former Sip & Purr Cat Cafe at 2021 E. Ivanhoe Pl. [OnMilwaukee]
• New Mexican restaurant in old Polish restaurant. [Urban Milwaukee]
• R.I.P. Third Ward wine store Vino Third Ward, 219 E. Erie St. [Urban Milwaukee]
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