Pat’s Rib Place to leave Milwaukee Public Market; new barbecue vendor coming this fall

Last week, Pat’s Rib Place in the Milwaukee Public Market got some extra-special attention when Oprah Winfrey stopped by to visit her niece Alisha Hayes, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Ty.

A week later, the barbecue joint has announced it will cease operations at the public market to focus on expanding its retail line of barbecue sauces, which will soon be available in select Milwaukee-area Meijer stores. The sauces have grown in popularity over the years, bolstered by a coveted mention on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2020.

"We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from our customers and the Market community," Alisha Hayes said in a statement. "We couldn't be prouder of the impact we had on the local BBQ restaurant industry and are excited to focus on growing our retail line to bring our BBQ sauces to a larger audience."

Pat’s Rib Place debuted in the Milwaukee Public Market in 2021 . Prior to that, it operated a restaurant in Waukesha from 2009 to 2021.

July 31 will be the last day of business for Pat’s Rib Place in the Milwaukee Public Market.

"We are extremely proud and happy for Alisha and Ty as they embark on this new chapter in their careers,” Paul Schwartz, executive director of the Milwaukee Public Market and Business Improvement District #2, said in a statement. “Their sauces were a customer favorite, and I'm excited that more people will be able to experience their product on a larger scale."

But this doesn’t mean the end of barbecue at the public market. A new vendor, David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse , will replace Pat’s this fall.

This will be the first Milwaukee outpost for the restaurant, which opened in Mukwonago in 2016.

Its menu will feature slow-smoked brisket, tender ribs and pulled pork, along with classic barbecue sides, sauces and a lineup of smoked cocktails.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Alan Alan's Smokehouse to our family of vendors,” Schwartz said. “Their product standards and focus on hospitality fits the Public Market mission perfectly, and we look forward to the unique and high-quality BBQ they will bring to the Market.”

Follow the Milwaukee Public Market on Facebook and Instagram for updates and to learn when David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse will debut.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pat’s Rib Place to leave Milwaukee Public Market; new barbecue vendor coming this fall