Red Arrow Park’s long-quiet coffee kiosk could be trading lattes for lagers as soon as this summer, with a seasonal beer garden eyed for the high-profile downtown plaza at 920 N. Water St. The concept, led by the team behind the Estabrook Park beer garden, would run on a short-term permit while Milwaukee County searches for a permanent concessionaire. If approvals line up quickly, organizers are targeting a July opening and hope to keep some level of activity going at the site into the winter months.
What the application says
A license application filed with the city clerk lists Hans Weissgerber and Kimberly Weissgerber, operating as ABC Estabrook Inc., as the would-be operators and uses the working title “Red Arrow Beer Garden.” The paperwork outlines a roughly 37,200-square-foot seasonal footprint and proposes a busy slate of programming, including live music, dance nights, comedy and community contests, according to BizTimes.
Who would run it and when it could open
Milwaukee County Parks has already posted a sign on the kiosk signaling it is finalizing a vendor permit with the same crew that runs Estabrook’s beer garden, a move County Parks Executive Director Guy Smith has called "a great opportunity to activate the space." County officials told CBS58 they hope to have the seasonal garden pouring by July, with the short-term deal stretching into March 2027. At the same time, the county plans to post concession details and issue a formal request for proposals as it hunts for a longer-term tenant.
Site history and design context
The kiosk at 920 N. Water St. most recently housed a Biggby Coffee stand, which closed in March after a long run as a Starbucks location ended in 2023. That stretch of Red Arrow Park also includes the seasonal Slice of Ice rink, and the city has been studying redesign options for the plaza, including replacing the rink with a skating ribbon and reworking plantings and pedestrian areas. The coffee shop exit was first noted in a report on the Biggby closure, while the redesign concepts were detailed by Urban Milwaukee.
Safety and neighborhood reaction
Water Street’s late-night bar scene has had its share of scrutiny, and some officials have flagged safety concerns in the area. Supporters of the beer garden proposal counter that a managed park concession is a different animal than the nearby nightlife strip. Alderman Bob Bauman told CBS58 he is not concerned, citing the Estabrook operator’s track record, and county leaders say they would cut off alcohol service at 9 p.m. to head off late-night spillover. Backers also stress that the temporary setup is meant to keep the plaza active while a permanent operator is identified.
How it fits into Milwaukee’s beer-garden scene
If it clears the permitting hurdles, the Red Arrow Beer Garden would slot into an already crowded local lineup, joining seasonal operations from Estabrook and Juneau Park to the Deer District and neighborhood pop-ups around the metro. Park-based beer gardens have become a summertime ritual in Milwaukee, as highlighted in Milwaukee Magazine’s seasonal guide.
Next steps
The Weissgerbers and ABC Estabrook Inc. still need to secure final permits and city approvals before any taps can open, and the application notes the entire project is contingent on those sign-offs, according to BizTimes. The filing also indicates the operator would look to offer indoor food service and a cafe bar during winter months, keeping the kiosk active year-round if the plan is approved. County officials say they will solicit proposals for the long-term concession and watch how the short-term beer garden performs before settling on a permanent direction for the space.
