Clarke Square is about to get a serious sweet tooth. Sabor Sin Fronteras, a new snack shop and soda fountain, has filed to open this spring at 2134 W. National Ave., bringing a long list of sugary treats and savory bites to a high-traffic corner of the neighborhood.
The license application outlines proposed hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, positioning the spot as an all-day hangout that could catch both early commuters and late-night snack seekers. If approved, the business would take over the storefront vacated by La Gran Colombia in December.
As first reported by Urban Milwaukee, owner Rosa Montoya Sánchez submitted the license application for a 1,125-square-foot space inside a building that already houses D’Sign Pizza. According to the filing, Sabor Sin Fronteras does not plan to seek a liquor license and does not intend to offer delivery or catering. A floor plan shows limited on-site seating, suggesting more of a grab-and-go vibe than a full sit-down restaurant. Sánchez did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication, the outlet reported.
What Sabor Sin Fronteras Will Serve
The proposed menu reads like a greatest-hits list for both kids and adults. On the sweet side, the application lists crepes, candy, snow cones, kettle corn, ice cream and milkshakes. Balancing that sugar rush are sandwiches, salads, ceviche and empanadas for those who want something closer to a meal.
The drink lineup includes coffee, cappuccinos, tea, fruit juice and smoothies. Taken together, the offerings are designed to work as a morning coffee stop, an afternoon treat counter and a spot for quick bites in between.
Space, Permits and Local Grants
City records show the National Avenue storefront received a $5,000 Brew City Match façade grant in 2019, and a sign grant for the adjacent unit was completed in 2022. Those public investments have helped freshen up the block and are noted in the city’s Brew City Match report and in Milwaukee city records.
Why Clarke Square?
National Avenue is heading into a multi-year rebuild that officials and community groups say will reshape traffic patterns and how people move past neighborhood storefronts. That looming construction has turned the corridor into a kind of proving ground for small food concepts hoping to catch more eyes and more feet on the sidewalk.
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service has documented both the reconstruction timeline and nearby storefront grant programs that aim to keep small businesses afloat while the street is torn up and rebuilt.
The building that would house Sabor Sin Fronteras is listed as being owned by commercial investor David Samuel. Nearby tenants include D’Sign Pizza and Mr. Churro Bakery, according to reporting by Urban Milwaukee, giving the block a distinctly snack-forward feel even before the new shop opens.
For now, Sabor Sin Fronteras’ license application is still awaiting city approval. If the permit is granted, the shop aims to open this spring and start pouring early-morning coffee and dishing out late-night snacks. Nearby business groups and residents say the mix of storefront grants and upcoming construction has turned National Avenue into prime territory for new small operators willing to test their luck along the corridor.
