Brim Café & Catering has planted its first standalone storefront at 622 W. Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee’s Lincoln Village, right across from the Basilica of St. Josaphat. The catering company held a soft opening in April, followed by a ribbon-cutting and grand opening on May 13. The counter-service cafe serves breakfast and lunch, pairing Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches and sauces with familiar coffee-shop staples.
As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the new storefront fills the former Li’l Friar gift shop and marks Brim’s first walk-in cafe after operating strictly as a caterer since 2014. Urban Milwaukee reported that the soft opening drew steady crowds and highlighted a menu that runs from chicken shawarma and Sicilian muffaletta to brisket burgers, burritos and specialty coffee drinks. Owners told the outlets they hope the cafe becomes a neighborhood gathering spot that feels like a natural extension of the Basilica across the street.
Public funding and partnerships
Public grants helped turn the former gift shop into a polished cafe. Milwaukee County’s Building Bridges program awarded Brim a $10,000 grant, according to a Milwaukee County press release, and the project also tapped city commercial-revitalization and signage funds to finish out the space. Brim notes those awards on its locations page and thanks partners including Cream City South Community Development Corporation for helping shepherd the project to completion.
Menu, layout and events
A wall of windows and a bright seating area anchor the new cafe, which shows off a countertop bakery case and digital menu boards, Urban Milwaukee notes. The menu blends Mediterranean flavors with everyday lunch classics, and the shop also offers seasonal smoothies alongside a full espresso program. The Lincoln Avenue space is available to rent for private tastings or small events, with room for roughly 45 guests.
Hours, other locations and next steps
Brim lists the Lincoln Village location’s hours as Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., on its website and plans to move private wedding tastings into the new storefront. The company, founded in 2014, already runs cafes at Honey Creek Corporate Center, the Rivercenter building at Schlitz Park and as the in-house vendor at 330 Eats, according to Brim. “Opening this location has been a huge labor of love,” co-owner Brittany Wahhab said in a Milwaukee County press release celebrating the ribbon-cutting.
For the latest hours, menus and event booking information, check Brim’s website. For more reporting on the opening, see the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
