Ryan Braun Tavern & Grill to Open This Spring

[MickeyDavis]

In Lake Geneva. Bleh.

By Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 30, 2010 2:06 p.m.

Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun is getting into the tavern-restaurant business.

Braun and a handful of other investors are in the process of converting the old Cactus Club in Lake Geneva into the new Ryan Braun's Tavern & Grill. The restaurant will be located at 430 N. Broad St.

Tom Romano, part of the development group, said Saturday that the new restaurant is expected to open in early spring. It will seat as many as 240 people. The decor will be rustic and look like a restaurant one might find in Vail, Colo., he said.

"Ryan really likes Lake Geneva," Romano said.

Besides Braun and Romano, the venture also involves Madison area attorney Patrick Sweeney, and a few other investors, Romano said.

Romano said a small booth promoting Braun's new venture will be set up on Sunday at the Midwest Airlines Center as part of the Brewers On Deck show.

Braun finished last season with 203 hits, and batted .320 with 32 home runs and 114 RBIs. He was a National League Silver Slugger award for the second year in a row.

[Thunder Muscle]

I've never been to Lake Geneva but heard its like Door County in that Chicagoland takes over.

[MickeyDavis]

Yup, all FIB's

[WEFFPIM]

I bet they have matzah ball soup

[MetroDrugUnit]

Lots of FIB's but very nice still. Maybe I'll have a chance to get in there since the FIB's might stay away because of the name. Who am I fooling that place will be filled with FIB's too.

[JeffJeckal]

I bet they have matzah ball soup

[crkone]

Braun's Lake Geneva restaurant is going slow but they are ambitious about this Milwaukee one.


http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives ... estau.html

Braun working on Milwaukee restaurant deal
Looking for a bite to eat after the Brewers' Opening Day game against the Colorado Rockies? Ryan Braun might have just the place.

According to an investor working with Braun on the project, Ryan Braun's Waterfront Grill will soon take over the space currently occupied by Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant, 102 N. Water St. in Milwaukee's historic Third Ward. Madison-based lawyer Patrick Sweeney said he finalized a lease on Monday, and the aggressive plan is to open to the public by Monday, April 5.

But Braun's agent, Nez Balelo of Creative Artists Agency, cautioned that the deal was not quite final.

Situated along the Milwaukee River, the space in question has seating for 275 including a huge outdoor patio with room for about 110 diners. The menu will feature fresh seafood in addition to steaks and chops, chicken, pastas, individual pizzas, sandwiches and hamburgers and kids fare. The wine list includes private-label, Italian-style wines licensed to Braun. Valet parking would be available.

Braun has been dipping his toes into the restaurant business since last summer, when he signed on with Sweeney's group to open Ryan Braun's Tavern and Grill in Lake Geneva, Wis. Progress is continuing slowly at that location, Sweeney said, though it will not be ready to open by the start of the baseball season.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee opportunity presented itself within the last month. It requires less build-out, though Sweeney conceded that the proposed schedule is aggressive.

"Very," Sweeney said. "But these things have been in the works for almost a year, so we can pull it off."

Braun has been personally involved in both projects. Assuming the deal goes through, he plans to spend some time at the restaurant this summer.

"I think I'll be there all the time," Braun said. "I'm really excited about it. I think we'll get some good buzz at the beginning, but then it becomes about great service and quality food. That has to be what it is all about, and that's why I associated myself with people with experience who know what they're doing."

Sweeney has been equally impressed with the young entrepreneur.

"Any time you have a deal like this where you license someone's name and likeness, they get to sign off on various things, and what has impressed me is the way his input has gone from, 'OK, that's fine,' to, 'I think we should do it like this instead,'" Sweeney said. "His intelligence sort of caught me off-guard. This is an impressive kid."

And a busy one. Braun is involved in a number of off-field ventures including a clothing company, Remetee, and a line of baseball bats from Sam Bat that bear his initials and uniform number.

[MickeyDavis]

Braunie has a TON of business projects going on, I hope he doesn't spread himself too thin. Nez does a good job through, Ryan is putting very very little of his own money into his business ventures. That's the way to do it.

Most of you don't remember Brett Favre's steakhouse in Milwaukee, on Water St. It's been closed for years. The place was huge and pretty good. The Green Bay one is still open and still busy.

Here's his former Milwaukee restaurant:

[MickeyDavis]

Here is the link to a good Braun article about his business dealings:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/85575362.html

[LarryHarris]

Braunie has a TON of business projects going on, I hope he doesn't spread himself too thin. Nez does a good job through, Ryan is putting very very little of his own money into his business ventures. That's the way to do it.

Most of you don't remember Brett Favre's steakhouse in Milwaukee, on Water St. It's been closed for years. The place was huge and pretty good. The Green Bay one is still open and still busy.

Here's his former Milwaukee restaurant:

I ate at Favre's place once when I was younger, no one really liked their food for the prices we had to pay for it. These places are so gimmicky. I don't know, I'll try Braun's place but I am sure I won't like it.

[MickeyDavis]

Yup if the food is no good it won't make it. People don't pay premium prices to look at pictures on the wall and shop in a gift shop. The food at Favre's place in Green Bay is much better than it was in Milwaukee. And it doesn't hurt to have it a couple of blocks from Lambeau. Brauns place will do well initially because of the name and it's location is pretty good.

[MetroDrugUnit]

Lake Geneva in the summer time is insane. If Houlihans can pack um in 365 I'm sure this place will do well.