A proposal seeking a liquor license for a restaurant lounge was met with disapproval from Sherman Park residents during a Thursday, Nov. 20th community meeting.
Alderman DiAndre Jackson hosted the meeting at Embassy Center MKE, 3725 N. Sherman Blvd. Nearly 40 residents attended the meeting.
PALAFOX LLC is seeking several licenses for the proposed lounge, located at 4435 W. Fond du Lac Ave., including a Class B-Tavern license to serve alcohol, a food dealer license and a public entertainment license to host music and live performances.
The lounge’s application goes before the Common Council’s licensing committee Tuesday, Dec. 2nd at City Hall.
Michael Corder, along with his business partner Robert Tally, who owns the building, plan to open the restaurant and lounge. The establishment, Corder said, is aimed at a mature crowd, 40 and over. The lounge plans to serve lunch and dinner but will have late hours closing at 1 or 2 a.m. Corder noted the hours are not set in concrete.
That drew residents’ ire. Many expressed concerns about other bars in the neighborhood, including the now-closed Mr. J’s Lounge, which had its license revoked.
“Been there, done that. It’s not a good idea whether it is young or old,” said Lois Redic, a 10-year Sherman Park resident. “I don’t see any business selling alcohol or food that is going to keep young people out because it is always about the money.”
“I don’t want to own a house near a nightclub,” added Nathan Coe, who has lived in the area since 1983.
Corder, a Vietnam vet, wants to create a space where mature adults can socialize, play cards, darts and dance, mainly “steppin’,” a dance style popularized in Chicago. Since retiring from AO Smith after 30 years and just recently from Zablocki Veterans Administration Hospital, Corder has taken up dancing.
But, he said, there are no places in Milwaukee to do so. Instead, he travels to Chicago.
Corder, who has lived in the neighborhood for 22 years, said he plans to run a respectable establishment attracting a clientele that is “grown and sexy.” The venue, he said will have security, a dress code, no rap music and patrons will be carded.
“Sometimes, we can have a belief that when you talk about a club, you right away think of it as it’s gonna be something bad. But it is not always like that,” the 71-year-old Corder said.
“This is my community too. I vote here. I live a block from here.” he said. “Anything to make it safe, that is what me and my partner is willing to do.”
Residents questioned Corder about parking, keeping activity on Fond du Lac Ave. and out of the neighborhood as well as assurances younger adults will not patronage the establishment.
“If you don’t play their music, they are not going to be there,” Corder said, noting he’s willing to consider not serving alcohol.
Church was told building would become a resale clothing shop
But support for Corder’s plans may have eroded before it even gets a vote at the city’s licensing committee.
The Rev. Martin Childs Jr. pastor emeritus of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, sold the building with the understanding it would be used as a resale clothing shop for disadvantaged women and children.
Childs said the building was sold at a discounted price because of that stated mission. And members of his church already began collecting clothing to donate to the alleged resale shop.
“Now we hear they want a Class-B liquor license,” Childs said. “If he had told us this is what he wanted to do, we never would have sold him the building.”
He urged the decision makers to tread carefully because the proposal started wrong.
“It started on a lie,” he said. “And it is going to end with problems. It going to end with issues.”
Sinclair Brewer, a 36-year resident of Sherman Park, was among the lounge’s few supporters. Brewer said no such place exists on this side of town for mature adults to enjoy a drink.
While Brewer admitted he too has concerns about certain bars, but “what they are proposing is a bar or club or restaurant where mature individuals can go,” he said.
“As a Black person if I wanted to put on a blazer and feel safe, there is nowhere in this community to feel safe,” Brewer added.
Theresa Scott, a Sherman Park resident of 25 years, doesn’t have a problem with the concept but said it’s not right for a residential community like Sherman Park.
“We are just oversaturated with businesses that have liquor licenses,” she said.
When asked his thoughts, Alderman Jackson was mum.
“People spoke,” he said. “He (Corder) is a good dude, but the people said what they said.”
This story had been updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sherman Park residents speak out against license for proposed lounge
Reporting by La Risa R. Lynch, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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