January 2004

J. T. Bones, a new, locally-owned restaurant at 801 E. Capitol Dr., opened its doors last month. J. T. Bones’ menu features barbecue ribs, catfish, chicken, shrimp, and a southern-style buffet. The management and staff promise to “treat your taste buds to an overdue and well-deserved break from the ordinary.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A new CD project, “Will Play Guitar for Food,” goes to support the work of Heifer International. The project will affect Milwaukee families, as local business Growing Power at 55th and Silver Spring receives assistance from Heifer International. Growing Power also helps train Heifer staff and volunteers in advanced sustainable agriculture practices. The Will Play Guitar For Food release is available at several retail outlets in Milwaukee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The East North Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) has seen some new activity lately. There’s a new pet hospital just east of the River (see story, page 13). And Columbia St. Mary’s is moving ahead with plans to redevelop and build on the former Heiser property, which is now being called “Prospect West.” The hospital and developers are reportedly in serious negotiation with a couple retail tenants for the new building. According to East North Avenue BID director Jim Plaisted, Columbia St. Mary’s has more than 40,000 square feet allocated for retail. The hospital will present preliminary plans to the BID in mid-January. The building, according to Paul Westrick, Columbia St. Mary’s vice president for strategic planning, will also occupy space vacated by the old Gold Coast Subs shop, the vacant building that used to house The Globe, and the space currently occupied by the Market Place. “Picking up a couple properties gave us a much better footprint for the development,” Westrick said. He confirmed that the hospital and developers are planning for retail on the ground floor and possibly the second floor. “There’ll be parking for the retail component underground, and to the north end of the site we put up a fairly major parking structure for our employees,” he said. There are plans for four floors of medical office space for about 50 physicians. Groundbreaking on the new building, which could be nine or ten stories, is expected to begin by early summer, assuming it receives city approval for re-zoning to allow that many stories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have any local labor or business news tips for us? E-mail to editor@riverwestcurrents.org.