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Milwaukee Business Journal
Airport deems RNC operation 'big success'
After smooth operations throughout the week of the Republican National Convention, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport was thrown a curve ball the day after festivities capped off.<\p> A Microsoft outage caused dozens of delays and cancellations into and out of the airport, creating long lines and upset travelers. However, despite this issue, airport staff was prepared for difficulties.<\p>
Harley-Davidson begins temporary layoffs
Amid the news Thursday that Harley-Davidson Inc. exceeded analyst estimates for sales and earnings, the motorcycle manufacturer has launched temporary layoffs at plants in suburban Milwaukee and elsewhere in anticipation of lower motorcycle sales volumes.<\p> Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) is adjusting production and implemented “weekly temporary layoffs” that started earlier this month, a leader of the main union at the Menomonee Falls plant told the Milwaukee Business Journal.<\p>
Kohl’s tries on new dress strategy
Kohl's Corp.'s recent launch of dress shops in 700 stores follows the company's strategy to expand its polished casual and dress wear merchandise while it strives to turn around slumping sales in 2024.<\p> The national retailer identified dresses as an area for growth, "particularly with white space in occasion, career and social dresses," Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) said in a press release.<\p>
Southwest makes major change to seating policy
Southwest Airlines Co., the largest carrier at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, said Thursday it would abandon its longstanding open-seating policy, and instead assign seats, offer premium seating and redesign its boarding model.<\p> The move comes as the Dallas-based carrier is under pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which in June disclosed a nearly $2 billion stake in Southwest and called for new leadership as the carrier underperformed competitors. Southwest stock (NYSE: LUV) is down more than 25% over the past year.<\p>
Kenosha County backs KRM rail study
Kenosha County supports studying whether a commuter rail line linking that county with Racine and Milwaukee should be created, adding to support the project has received so far.<\p> The projected 33-mile route, known colloquially as the KRM line, would run along the western shore of Lake Michigan east of Interstate 94 and would have stations in its three namesake cities and a handful of other communities along the way.<\p>
Harley-Davidson beats analyst estimates
Harley-Davidson Inc. beat analyst estimates for second-quarter revenue and earnings despite a 3% decrease in retail motorcycle sales and a lower operating margin for its motorcycle business while announcing a $1 billion share repurchase plan.<\p> Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) reported revenue of nearly $1.62 billion for the quarter ending June 30, an increase of 12% from the same period in 2023. The company posted net income of $218 million, or $1.63 per share, an increase of 23% from the comparable 2023 quarter.<\p>
Airport industrial park trades hands, again
A 10-building industrial park near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport sold in the biggest industrial real estate sale in Wisconsin this year.<\p> The industrial portfolio, known as Mitchell Industrial Park, in Cudahy was sold by Oak Realty Group Inc. of Deerfield, Illinois, and acquired by a joint venture between DRA Advisors of New York and Capital Partners of Edina, Minnesota, for a total of $59.95 million, according to a Colliers International | Wisconsin press release. <\p>
Developer gets win in Racine water wars
Milwaukee-area developer S.R. Mills won a key court ruling Wednesday in a lawsuit in which his company alleged the city of Racine and its mayor, Cory Mason, are refusing to supply water to one of Mills' new housing developments in suburban Mount Pleasant.<\p> The ruling by Racine County Circuit Court Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz doesn’t force Racine city officials to approve the water pipeline extension. Instead he ordered the Racine Common Council’s finance and personnel committee to consider an agreement that the Racine Water Works already approved for Mills’ company, Bear Real Estate Group. <\p>
Milwaukee Public Market vendor exits to sell sauces
Pat's Rib Place will close at the Milwaukee Public Market as owners Ty and Alisha Hayes dedicate more time and resources to a growing retail business with their sauces that hit the grocery store shelves at Meijer in early June.<\p> A new vendor, David Alan Alan's Smokehouse, is preparing to take over the vendor space at the market, 400 N. Water St., by the fall. Pat's Rib Place is to mark its last day at the Third Ward venue July 31, the Milwaukee Public Market said in a press release.<\p>
Neutral Project's $700M plan picked for downtown site
The city of Milwaukee has selected Madison-based The Neutral Project to redevelop the city's Marcus Center parking garage in a $700 million project slated to include the tallest building in Wisconsin and the tallest mass timber tower in the world.<\p> Up to 750 housing units, 90,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space, 300 hotel rooms and 1,100 structured parking spaces could be included in the project, according to a Wednesday announcement by the city. The city owns the site and leases it to the Marcus Performing Arts Center. <\p>
Raising Cane's is headed to these locations next
Raising Cane's continues to build its presence for chicken finger fans in Wisconsin as it moves ahead with leases signed for new restaurants in Janesville and Eau Claire.<\p> Plans for the new locations come on the heels of announcing a July 30 opening for the chain's latest location in Greendale, at 5250 S. 76th St. <\p>
German Fest returns with new sponsors
German Fest returns to Henry Maier Festival Park this weekend with a few new additions to its 2024 event.<\p> One of the city's largest cultural festivals has risen out of the pandemic well, with crowds returning to pre-pandemic numbers. In 2019, the festival had 73,000 attendees. That took a dip coming out of the pandemic to 65,000 in 2022, but the festival nearly hit its 70,000-people goal in 2023.<\p>
National bubble tea brand opens in Wisconsin
The national Taichi Bubble Tea brand has entered the Wisconsin market with its first shop on Milwaukee's east side.<\p> The Milwaukee location's owner, Jianming Mei, has already welcomed customers at 2028 E. North Ave. but continued this week to expand customer comforts in the 2,900-square-foot space. There, Taichi Bubble Tea serves not only drinks but a full ramen menu as well. It has room to seat about 30 people, but he said he is bringing in more tables soon to seat up to 60 customers.<\p>
Rehab firm leases former Kenosha hospital
A Florida for-profit drug and alcohol addiction treatment concern will lease three floors of Froedtert South’s former downtown Kenosha hospital and hire more than 70 employees.<\p> Froedtert South said the arrangement with Guardian Recovery of Delray Beach, Florida, aims to address a service gap in Kenosha County. Froedtert South does not run its own program for drug and alcohol treatment, a spokesman said.<\p>
Three Leaf's Tosa apartments moving forward
A $45 million plan to replace a church in the heart of downtown Wauwatosa with 153 apartments is moving forward after the city approved designs for the project.<\p> Milwaukee development firm Three Leaf Partners is under contract to purchase Saint Bernard Congregation at 7474 Harwood Ave., and it needed approval from the city's Design Review Board to build apartments on the site. <\p>
New $13M lab to pilot wastewater innovations
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is spending $13 million to build out a research lab at its Oak Creek reclamation facility to test new wastewater treatment technologies.<\p> Once the lab is ready, the project will kick off with the large-scale testing of two emerging filtration technologies over two years. The lab will also allow water-technology businesses, universities, scientists and inventors to partner with the district to test new concepts and ideas on a large scale at a working treatment plant.<\p>
Local firms vying for Wisconsin Innovation Awards
Four Milwaukee-area firms have been named finalists in the 2024 Wisconsin Innovation Awards, honoring the state's most innovative and forward-thinking companies and individuals.<\p> Advanced Ionics of New Berlin, Microbial Discovery Group of Oak Creek, Septillionth Inc. of Whitefish Bay and TRT Speech Labs: Hello Audrey of Racine are among the 31 finalists for the awards, which recognize innovation and spotlight companies making significant contributions to their fields.<\p>
Packers shareholders meeting about Amtrak, draft, docuseries
Green Bay Packers leadership on Monday updated the franchise's fans on several topics during the team’s annual shareholders meeting at Lambeau Field, including the 2025 NFL Draft, renovations in and around the stadium and a new documentary series by one of the league’s most popular production companies.<\p> One of the biggest pieces of news was the Packers and city of Green Bay’s progress relating to the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in the city. Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said the event would be “by far” the largest ever held in Green Bay. The Packers have raised $8.1 million of the needed $8.5 million for the draft, according to materials presented during the meeting.<\p>
Marquette begins national search for 25th president
One of Milwaukee’s biggest universities has started the search for new leadership.<\p> Marquette University announced the national search for its next president. The president will be the 25th in the university’s 143-year history and will follow the late President Michael Lovell. Lovell passed away in June following a three-year battle with sarcoma.<\p>
UPAF names new CEO
Annemarie Scobey-Polacheck was named the United Performing Arts Fund's next president and CEO.<\p> A Milwaukee native, Scobey-Polacheck most recently served as the director of corporate philanthropy for Johnson Controls International. There, she led the organization’s annual philanthropic efforts and was the architect of the global Community College Partnership Program, the largest philanthropic initiative in the company’s history. <\p>
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