A casual eatery called DB’s in Da Kitchen has been proposed for 2121 W. Wells St. The concept would bring soul food and fusion dishes to the space just west of Marquette University.
Darick Bates is behind the restaurant. Bates had been a barber for 20 years before he started DB’s in Da Kitchen in early 2025 as a catering operation. His catering menu includes dishes like smothered chicken, fried catfish and perch, burgers, tacos and fusion pasta dishes.
Bates plans to expand that menu in the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, adding dishes like jerk catfish pasta and Louisiana Cajun cream sauce over dirty rice. Bates is a vegetarian, so DB’s in Da Kitchen also will serve a few vegetarian items such as wheat gluten mock-chicken strips and cauliflower over rice.
“I’m bringing dishes that you probably won’t find in other places here. It’s more like Southern soul,” Bates said.
Pending license approval from the city and renovations to the dining room, Bates said he hopes to open the restaurant on Sept. 1, in time for Marquette University’s fall semester. DB’s in Da Kitchen will offer student deals like 20% off a meal if you have a student ID, he said.
“I’m trying to make my place a zone for Marquette students to frequent,” Bates said.
DB’s in Da Kitchen will occupy the 880-foot easternmost portion of the former Conway’s Smokin’ Bar & Grill. The space will include a dining room and a walk-up window for ordering.
When Conway’s closed in 2024, it ended the building’s 89-year run as some kind of tavern. Taquero Vaquero opened in the space in October 2025 but has since closed.
Next door at 2127 W. Wells St., Scoreboard Sports Bar promised to take up the mantle in March and bring a bar back to the Conway’s space, but it has yet to open. If Scoreboard doesn’t open, Bates said he would take over the space and include the bar as part of DB’s in Da Kitchen.
While that area of Wells Street has seen a steady decline in businesses over the years, Bates said he sees the potential. He hopes that by opening DB’s in Da Kitchen he can bring new life to the space.
“I think I could come in and at least do my part and turn around the area on my block, at least,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New soul food restaurant proposed for Wells Street near Marquette
Reporting by Joey Schamber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Joey Schamber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
