Separate development plans could officially end any hope that a bowling alley could be resurrected, while Waukesha could soon be home to a brewery again.
Both plans are expected to be the subject of discussion before the Waukesha Plan Commission at its meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Bowling over the alley
The site of the former AMF bowling alley near the Waukesha County Airport could be redeveloped into an unspecified industrial development, if plans proceed.
HSA Commercial Real Estate Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is looking at transforming the 8.4-acre site at 901 Northview Road. But it first needs the plan commission to rezone the land and amend the land-use plan for the site.
The developer is asking that the property, currently split-zoned both B-5 Community Business District and manufacturing, be unified to M-1 Light Industrial District. The developer is also requesting that the city's land-use plan for the site be amended from commercial to industrial.
These changes would allow the site to be redeveloped "for light industrial purposes."
The developer said in its plans that the rezone "will be more consistent with the nearby developments than the B-5 zoning classification."
According to project details submitted to the city, HSA would demolish the existing, obsolete bowling center building and redevelop the site by constructing a multitenant light industrial building consisting of roughly 175,000 square feet of space.
"HSA's internal market study shows significant demand in the area for modern, flexible light industrial and manufacturing space with loading docks," according to its plans.
Construction would take about nine months. Full-time employment is estimated to be about 175 employees.
The bowling alley and the Rooters night club, an entertainment venue that featured live music from local, regional and national acts — as well as karaoke, dance lessons and poker tournaments inside the bowling alley — closed in June after 37 years of operation.
The city's plan commission was scheduled to take up both the rezoning and land-use plan amendment at its meeting.
New brewery
The plan commission was also scheduled to review a conditional-use permit for a craft brewery on the northeast side of the city at 2244 W. Bluemound Road, Unit E.
According to the company's application, daily operations for Raised Grain Brewing Company LLC will consist of brewing beer and operating a tasting room.
"Waukesha is a fantastic market for a new brewery, and it is completely unrepresented in the craft beer craze," the owners wrote in their business plan. "The city of Waukesha has room for a leader."
Raised Grain Brewing Company will conduct on-site and off-site production and packaging.
The owners said that to produce more than 90 percent of its expected output in its first year, the company will do most of its production at a new brewery in Waunakee, with output from this facility getting bottled or kegged to beer stores, grocery stores, restaurants and bars throughout Wisconsin.
While the owners say its initial buildout at its Waukesha brewery will be modest in size at 2,480 square feet, it is capable of supplying its need for "one-off brews and push-the-envelope-beers for craft beer bars and restaurants, festivals and special off-site events."
"We will continue to reinvest in and grow our business with the intent of bringing all capacity to Waukesha, creating additional brewing, packaging, cellaring and distribution jobs in the process," the owners said. "This may result in a buildout of a larger space dedicated to our production needs, but our home will remain in Waukesha."
According to its business plan, the tasting room will be closed Monday-Wednesday, but will be open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The tasting room, which would be approximately 1,520 square feet, will have seating capacity for 50 people.
Owners will also hold brewery tours and might serve pre-prepared foods, such as cheese plates, "that will enhance the educational experience and will help customers learn about pairing craft beer with food."
Scott Kelley, a partner in the company and brewmaster, leads the management team. He is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is a pathologist with sub-specialty in dermatopathology. Kelley, whose father was chief financial officer for G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, is an assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin during the day.
Nick Reistad is also a partner in the business and will lead sales and marketing. Reistad is a University of Wisconsin School of Business graduate and works as an account supervisor for an advertising agency. Kevin Brandenburg, who has an engineering and financial background, is also a partner in the business.