What used to be a long-empty, fenced-off lot next to Lakefront Brewery's beer hall is on the verge of becoming something much more inviting: a small riverfront greenspace that brewery guests should be able to use later this summer. Fresh sod now covers the ground, new saplings line the Milwaukee River, and owner Russ Klisch says the lawn needs only another week or two to fully take root. After years as a utilitarian storage yard, the plot is being reshaped for picnic-style lounging and possible family-friendly amenities.
Greenspace near brewery to open this summer
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, landscapers recently rolled out fresh sod and planted trees across the lot, although a May drought slowed the grass from establishing. Klisch told the paper the lawn needs roughly another week or two before it is ready and said he hopes the patch of green becomes a relaxed hangout for people to gather. Journal Sentinel coverage also notes the parcel sat mostly unused after a planned packaging-and-fermentation expansion never happened.
How the lot went from storage to grass
Urban Milwaukee reported that the roughly 34,000-square-foot site was purchased in 2014 and for years served as a spot for equipment and storage. Klisch told the outlet the city asked him to rent the lot to contractor Zenith Tech during work on the Holton viaduct, and that later zoning reviews led to screening requirements and other tweaks. According to Urban Milwaukee, removing the chain-link fence and adding new plantings are all part of an effort to make the block friendlier to people on foot.
Plans include cabanas and a play area
Local reporting early this year laid out a long wish list for the space: cabana-style seating, picnic tables, hop houses and a small chalet, plus an 18-by-18-foot children's playset, according to WTMJ. The January story said Klisch brought the redevelopment plan to the Board of Zoning Appeals and that it also reserves room for brewery trucks and contractor storage. Klisch told reporters he sees those family-minded touches as a way to widen Lakefront's appeal beyond the classic beer-hall crowd.
Bridge work shaping the timeline
The long-running rehabilitation of the Holton Street Bridge has loomed over how the property could be used, and even basic access to the area. The City of Milwaukee's project page details a multi-phase overhaul that began in 2023 and has continued into 2025-26, including substructure and superstructure repairs funded with a combination of federal and city dollars. In an interview with the Journal Sentinel, Department of Public Works marketing officer Tiffany Shepherd said the city will soon announce a reopening date for the bridge and that it should arrive "well before the end of summer."
What this means for visitors and events
Hoodline recently covered how Lakefront Maifest in May spilled out across Commerce Street, noting that fresh fencing and new trees changed the festival footprint and helped spread vendors around the block. A reusable greenspace right next to the brewery should only make that kind of event staging easier and give weekend crowds and family programming more room to breathe through the summer and beyond.
Next steps and what to watch
Klisch says he is still weighing whether to add a small children's play area and cabanas in the future, according to WTMJ. Officials say the brewery will likely share formal opening details once the sod is fully established and any remaining clearances are wrapped up. Until then, the fresh lawn is already offering a preview of a softer, greener riverfront for neighbors and visitors who have long known this corner as a dusty storage lot.
