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The Melting Pot is coming Downtown to the the former Milwaukee Antique Center. |  |
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 | By Jeff Sherman   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Jeff Sherman |
| Published Feb. 24, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. |
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The Milwaukee area's first The Melting Pot opened in 2004 in Brookfield at 19850 N. Bluemound Rd., in the former Tony Roma's space.
Today we've learned that the upscale eatery offering a variety of cheese, chocolate and hot oil- / broth-based fondues is opening "soon" in the Third Ward neighborhood at 341 N. Milwaukee St., the former Milwaukee Antique Center.
The first The Melting Pot opened in Maitland, Fla., in 1975, but fondue -- derived from the French verb "to melt" -- originated in Switzerland where it was a practical way to make good use of hardened cheese.
As OnMilwaukee.com's Molly Snyder Edler reported in 2004, owners Ruby and Matthew Soik originally planned to open their franchise Downtown, but changed their minds due to the Marquette Interchange project.
Now that the project is completed and the Third Ward, especially, continues to grow the Melting Pot is poised to continue to expand the city's dining scene.
In recent years national restaurants like Capital Grille and Kincaid's have opened in the Downtown area. The Melting Pot follows their lead.
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14 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by KoalaEatingTree on April 9, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (report)
I have to agree with those opinions about restaurant chains in the Third Ward; the crowd that frequents the area enjoys unique names and styles. The ownership doesn't matter as much (meaning an owner who has multiple restaurants) as the fact that the consumer isn't attending a place they could find in a another city. I think the eatery will get the opening buzz and then attendance will die down quickly. These things are hardly predictable, however it can be said based on the turnover in the Third Ward that uniqueness always proliferates; even Anthropologie seems to be struggling as there are rarely more than a handful of people in the store. I will disagree with the 12 month comment however, because with chain restaurants, and chains in general, they have the capital to support their costs even without revenue. I'd predict that they won't make it through their lease term (or 5-7 years if they buy the building). Also, no business owner would make a choice based on yearly events such as festivals (Summerfest, etc). They need to tailor themselves to the residents and potential residents. A chain restaurant will not pull new talent and residents to Milwaukee; if anything it will deter them. As a resident of the area, and small business owner in MKE, I am disappointed by their arrival.
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Posted by 3wrd Luvr on March 9, 2009 at 10:19 p.m. (report)
Brenner - you promised us all that you were leaving the city after the Bronz Fonz went up...I am sure that the rest of us would pony up a few pennies for you to get a train ticket to Montana. Your opinion holds as little value as your word. Anyway - what the heck do we care that another (Chain) restaurant is opening up in the City...if you don't want to eat there - DON'T! Bringing people into the city, bringing Business into the city is what counts right now. What are YOU doing to spur the economy? Please quit blaming other people for being successful, what have you given back to any community?
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Posted by jackattack5 on March 5, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (report)
Third Ward is going to be a really tough market for this type of restaurant. Wish it well, but not seeing this work. Third Ward has enough places to eat already and now add this type of establishment. - G
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Posted by burkavitz on Feb. 27, 2009 at 1:44 a.m. (report)
Oh come ON!? GIVE ME A BREAK@! Seriously? Do these people even graduate the 6th grade before they make decisions to open places like these? 12 months.....MAXimum.
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Posted by ellem on Feb. 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. (report)
Bad News. Stick to the suburbs, melting pot. I really enjoyed the unique NON chain vibe the 3rd ward has. Please go to Bayshore Mall, Melting Pot...much better fit.
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