Caravan Hospitality Group of Milwaukee is expected to operate a Nomad Coffee Bar in a building under construction at the Vel R. Phillips Plaza, the new vibrant urban space that honors the trailblazing Milwaukee leader and will provide important civic and transit amenities in the city’s Westown neighborhood.
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee will consider a food and beverage vendor lease for Caravan Hospitality Group at the location at its Jan. 18 meeting. Caravan Hospitality Group owns and operates Nomad taverns on Brady Street and in Madison, Sportclub on North Jefferson Street, Tavern at Turner Hall and Nomad Boardsports in Oconomowoc.
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The Vel R. Phillips Plaza is situated south of Wisconsin Avenue between North 5th Street and North Vel R. Phillips Avenue. More than $15 million in approved Tax Incremental Financing dollars has already been allocated to convert a portion of this site into a public space.
“The City of Milwaukee is quickly advancing work at the Vel R. Phillips Plaza in Westown. It’s adding to vibrancy and growth downtown,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “I look forward to Nomad Coffee Bar, a local business that will spur further economic development to this area.”
Phillips left an indelible mark on Milwaukee history through her lifelong work as an attorney, jurist, politician and civil rights activist. She was the first Black person and the first woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, the first female judge in Milwaukee County and the first Black judge in Wisconsin.
She was the first woman to hold the office of Secretary of State in Wisconsin and the first Black person to win a statewide election. Until her death in April 2018, Phillips remained an active leader in pushing for social justice, education and equal opportunities for minorities in Milwaukee.
“On behalf of myself and my family, we welcome the future Nomad Coffee Bar at the Vel R. Phillips Plaza,” said Michael Phillips, son of Vel R. Phillips. “We support the Redevelopment Authority’s approval of the lease for the coffee bar. I am excited by the opening of her plaza, where all may enjoy its offerings and learn about her legacy and its impact in our community.”
The proposed lease between the Redevelopment Authority and Caravan includes a cash grant for up to $750,000 for tenant improvements in the 2,900-square-foot food and beverage retail space at the plaza.
Nomad Coffee Bar anticipates opening later this year.
“I support the proposed lease that will enliven this public space in honor of a true icon of our greater community, Vel R. Phillips,” Alderman Robert Bauman said. “This development will enhance this transportation hub by providing better connections to neighborhoods.”
Caravan CEO Mike Eitel expressed excitement in having the opportunity to be part of the ongoing revitalization of Westown.
“The synergies between the mission of the Vel R. Phillips Plaza, the Nomad Coffee Bar as a business model and the core values of Caravan Hospitality’s company culture are truly aligned,” he said.
The food and beverage vendor lease will provide further activation and draw more visitors to the plaza, city officials said.
The plaza is in proximity to many other Westown developments, including Fiserv Forum and the Deer District, The Avenue and 3rd Street Market Hall, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s new space, the future global headquarters for Fiserv, a new Kohl’s department store at Hub 640, the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and the Baird Center, the city’s convention and exhibition center that is undergoing a major expansion.
The Department of City Development will soon announce the three finalists for an art installation in honor of Vel R. Phillips at the plaza.
