MADISON, Wis. — Today, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that businesses in downtown Milwaukee are only now beginning to recover after last week’s disappointing drop in business as a result of the RNC. After officials promised $200 million in economic benefits for the city, some businesses said the increase in visitors for the RNC failed to deliver an increase in business. Local business owners are hailing a return to business as usual as a “welcome relief.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘Well needed bump in business’: Northwestern Mutual annual meeting packs Third Ward
By: Ricardo Torres
Many downtown restaurants and bars are still feeling the pain of a quiet week from the Republican National Convention, but some are enjoying a boost from Northwestern Mutual’s annual meeting.
This year, because of the RNC cleanup at Fiserv Forum, Panther Arena and the Baird Center, Northwestern Mutual’s event is taking place at Henry Maier Festival Park, also known as the Summerfest grounds.
Running from Saturday to Tuesday, Northwestern Mutual said nearly 11,000 employees and guests attended the event which in recent years has been a $19 million impact to the city.
“Our city is experiencing an unprecedented summer, and Northwestern Mutual’s annual meeting is one of the high points,” said Matt Dorner, Downtown Milwaukee Business Improvement District economic development director. “Northwestern Mutual’s annual meeting is always a favorite week for our businesses.”
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John Cassanos, director of food and beverage for Kimpton Journeyman hotel which has the Outsider on the roof and Tre Rivali on the street level, said he could “definitely feel the presence” of the Northwestern Mutual employees.
“Having them at Summerfest grounds, definitely ups the impact on the Third Ward,” Cassanos said. “Not just visually, because I’ve seen many more groups of people, but certainly for the rooftop bar had a big weekend with lots of folks from Northwestern Mutual coming in and enjoying the rooftop views.”
Having the annual meeting in the Third Ward is a “welcome relief” Cassanos said.
“It definitely is a well needed bump in business in the last couple of days,” Cassanos said. “Even the Friday after, there was still a little bit of that hangover, people who had left town were starting to come back. So I think this week will be much bigger.”
Businesses in the Third Ward were among those frustrated by a lack of sales during the RNC, in part because convention attendees were busy at Fiserv Forum or at other gatherings. Also, many downtown offices, including Northwestern Mutual, encouraged employees to work remotely.
Tre Rivali in the Third Ward is seeing an increase in business because of Northwestern Mutual’s annual meeting taking place at Henry Maier Festival Park.
Chad Frank, a Northwestern Mutual associate from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said he knows a lot of people have gone to RWB, on 1044 N. Martin Luther King Drive.
Frank said he went to Cafe Benelux and called it a “great spot.”
“We go all over as much as we possibly can,” Frank said adding he’s come to Milwaukee for training and enjoys going to the Milwaukee Public Market. “That’s a really, really cool area. Fun area.”
Jeffery Crosley, CEO of Baltimore-based Travers Wealth Management with Northwestern Mutual, had a meal at Cafe Benelux and spent some time on the roof at The Outsider.
“It’s beautiful up there,” Crosley said.
Some associates who are not new to Milwaukee are hitting up the regular places they normally go to.
“Because it’s always been at Fiserv, we always end up going back to Who’s on Third, and that main strip next to Fiserv,” said Martim Cohen, from South Carolina.
Cohen said he enjoys going to the Public Market and is asking other people with more knowledge of the city for recommendations for other places to try.
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Cassanos encourages people who avoided the area during the RNC “to get out and support local restaurants and bars.”
“They could use your help,” Cassanos said. “And make sure you tip extra well because people who rely on tips had a rough week last week.”
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