Milwaukee Ale House Joins Forces with North Star American Bistro
The owners of the Milwaukee Ale House and North Star American Bistro announced a joint venture intended to improve upon the established success of the Milwaukee Ale House by providing a higher quality experience for diners and drinkers in both locations. Starting May 2, the North Star team will take ownership of the Milwaukee Ale House in Grafton and will run the kitchen operations of the flagship Ale House in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.
The new venture allows Milwaukee Ale House founder and owner Jim McCabe to focus solely on the growing craft brewing operations of the Milwaukee Brewing Company (MBC), and expanding the brewery’s production facility in Walker’s Point. MBC will continue to provide the high?quality craft beers Ale House fans have come to know and love.
“Combined, the partnership between our operations is much greater than the sum of its parts,” said McCabe. “The Ale House is well?known for serving a delicious variety of craft beers, and the expertise North Star Bistro brings to the table will bring a whole new level of freshness, quality, and local pride to its food offerings.”
With collective experience of more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, North Star’s Duffy O’Neil and Mike Stoner blend traits specific to both service and food knowledge effortlessly and seamlessly, which has contributed to the success of their two North Star Bistro locations in Shorewood and Brookfield.
“Milwaukee Ale House has an established reputation for great beer and a fun atmosphere, and North Star is recognized for its quality food and service,” said Mike Stoner, Operations Director of the North Star team. “Bringing those elements together will elevate the experience of our guests at the Ale House.”
“We plan to bring our food philosophy to the Ale House, emphasizing fresh flavors and quality ingredients,” added Duffy O’Neil, North Star’s Executive Chef. “The Ale House is a more laid back and value oriented atmosphere and the menu will continue to reflect that. In a nutshell, the beer, live music, and fun atmosphere will remain, but the food quality will change.” He went on to emphasize that the prices at the Ale House will stay the same.
O’Neil, a native of Wisconsin, has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 15 years, not only as a chef, but as a master brewer and kitchen operations director in Madison, Wis., San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Stoner, also from Wisconsin, has focused on the service side of the industry over the last decade, as general manager of such high?volume restaurants as Water Street Brewery in Delafield, Wis., and The Brown Bottle in Milwaukee.
The two groups were originally brought together by local commercial real estate broker Alec Karter. The agreement is set to take effect May 2.
About Milwaukee Brewing Company and the Milwaukee Ale House
Milwaukee Brewing Company (MBC) is a craft beer brewery and the only true microbrewery in Milwaukee today. The brewery’s beginnings go back to 1996, when two home brewers with limited resources and unlimited ideas started brewing beer in the basement of a Cedarburg farmhouse. That effort led to the opening of the popular Milwaukee Ale House the following year, and, in 2006, the current production facility at 613 S. 2nd Street in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Using the best local ingredients and a hands?on brewing technique, MBC brews more than a dozen varieties of beer, including Louie’s Demise, Flaming Damsel and Pullchain Pail Ale. For more information, visit www.ale-house.com or www.milwaukeebrewingco.com.
About North Star American Bistro
Owned and operated by restaurateurs Duffy O’Neil and Mike Stoner, North Star American Bistro opened in Shorewood on November 1, 2004. North Star in Brookfield opened a little less than two years later in August of 2006. With collective experience of more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, Duffy and Mike blend traits specific to both service and food knowledge effortlessly and seamlessly. For more information, visit www.northstarbistro.com.
