Slush Shack, a new counter-service slushy and snack spot, is set to slide into Sherman Phoenix later this summer, promising candy-topped frozen drinks and loaded comfort food for the crowds in the market's central atrium. Owner Artavia Logan says the idea came from wanting more options for kids, a stronger draw for families, and built-in youth programming. If city approvals land on time, the stand is eyeing a soft opening in late July or early August.
Where it will sit
Sherman Phoenix, at 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., is a converted bank building that now houses dozens of Black-owned food, retail and service businesses. According to Sherman Phoenix, the site operates as an entrepreneurial hub with shared kitchens, studios and community-focused programming. Slush Shack is slated to take a counter-service space inside the marketplace instead of a separate street-facing storefront.
Menu, hours and city review
A license application tied to the proposal outlines a menu of candy-topped and fruit-based slushies, along with snacks like pizza slices, Polish sausage, loaded nachos, salad flights and baked potatoes. Vegetarian and vegan options are also in the plans. Proposed hours run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and the application again pegs a soft opening for late July or early August, contingent on Milwaukee Common Council approval of the permit. The application, which is still pending before the council, also nods to playful flavor names such as Grape Drip and Green Apple Slap. Per Urban Milwaukee, Logan hopes that lineup will help pull more families into the building.
Community programming is central
"We're working to cater to just about everybody," Logan told reporters, adding that she wants the stand to "bring everybody together and bridge a lot of gaps in the community." Her plans include creating a nonprofit arm that will focus on academic programming and pursuing a partnership with the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to build job pathways for people with disabilities. Logan already operates a podcast studio inside Sherman Phoenix and runs the MKE Foodie Fest series, which is scheduled to stop at the marketplace this month, according to Urban Milwaukee.
Neighborhood events will preview the concept
Slush Shack's planned soft opening lines up with two family-focused gatherings at Sherman Phoenix. Different Abilities, Same Love is hosting a Community Connect and Resource Fair on July 18, featuring an awareness walk, vendors and games, and MKE Foodie Fest is slated for July 19, showcasing more than two dozen local businesses. The Different Abilities fair is listed on local community calendars, and that weekend's boosted foot traffic could give the vendor an instant test audience for its flavors and operations before a full launch. JCrew Foundation includes the July 18 event on its schedule.
If the Common Council signs off on the license, Slush Shack will become the latest locally owned concept to plug into Sherman Phoenix's push for a daytime, family-friendly marketplace. The mix of colorful frozen drinks and community-minded programming could widen the appeal for parents and younger visitors. Observers will be watching the council docket and the timing of the stand's soft opening later this summer. According to Sherman Phoenix, the marketplace continues to host rotating events and dozens of vendors year-round.
