Milwaukee's cherished establishment, Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, has been selected for a significant financial boost, nabbing a $50,000 from a collaborative effort between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program, detailed in an announcement by Alderman Robert J. Bauman, as noted in an official City of Milwaukee.
This honor places Best Place among an exclusive cadre of 50 small or independently owned restaurants nationwide to bask in the support of such a grant, a recognition of their contribution to their neighborhood's historical tapestry and cultural fabric, but not so long ago, this landmark had found itself on the brink of demolition — it stood defiantly, teetering on the precipice where some considered its history less valuable than the land upon which it rested, as reported by the City of Milwaukee.
"Just a few years ago, there were some who wanted to bulldoze the historic building that houses the iconic Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery – a structure steeped in Milwaukee’s brewing history," said Alderman Bauman, who chairs the Historic Preservation Commission and represents the district where Best Place is located, as conveyed in the City of Milwaukee announcement.
As it steers into its fifth year, the grant program endeavors to not only preserve America’s diverse culinary chronicles but also the beloved buildings that host these stories, this initiative since its conception has funneled over $8 million towards the preservation of 180 historic diners, eateries, and taverns across every state, including Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; in doing so, it affirms the notion that these spaces serve as more than mere points of commerce—they are the pulsating hearts of their communities, as per the City of Milwaukee.
Honoring the diligence and passion of those who maintain these culinary landmarks, Alderman Bauman lauded Jim Haertel, the owner of Best Place, stating, "I want to congratulate owner Jim Haertel on receiving this prestigious grant and for all of the work he has put in over the course of more than 20 years to polish the gem that is Best Place," words echoed from the city’s official communication. The future for this hallmark of Milwaukee seems bright, bolstered now by this significant funding and the continued support of a community which values the sustenance of its storied past.
