Waukesha's summer includes 3 new businesses, with Indian food, craft beers and Beatles

WAUKESHA - As summer unfolds, several new businesses that recently opened, or are about to, have found their place in the sun in the city of Waukesha.

It's a chance to try some Indian food, craft beer (in a historic beer venue) and experience a British sensation (very soon). Here's what you should know about each.

Indian Village transforms longtime burger venue into ethnic specialty

Flor those who wished for something new and different in restaurant fare, an ethnic restaurant has emerged — ironically, at the previous site of the most common of American dining choices.

Indian Village has opened at 1345 S. West Ave., the Sunset Drive strip venue that for more than a quarter century was the home of Murf's, a jumbo burger and frozen custard eatery, and more briefly Buddy's Burgers and Custard. This time, the cuisine is decisively focused on an uncommon choice: a taste of India.

Owners Vijay and Apexa Patel, who also operate an older restaurant in Greenfield, purchased the burger building late in 2023 and took the winter transforming its interior into a less casual bar restaurant, with a cultural flare. The restaurant also welcomes takeout orders, including the use of the original drive-thru window on the west side of the building.

The business is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

North Pillar Brewing remakes famous Waukesha brewery

An old brewery is now a new brewery, the kind in which you can sit and enjoy the products in a taproom.

North Pillar Brewing, 212 E. North St., has followed through on its plans from one year ago , transforming the 30,000-square-foot historic Weber Brewery into a large taproom alongside a seven-barrel, open-air brewhouse, enabling guests to witness the production process.

Boehm & Hocking LLC, the company started by professional partners and Waukesha residents Ethan Boehm and Braden Hocking, worked with ADH Properties LLC and Berg Management to convert the building, preserving enough of the interior to make the venue a historic place to visit as well. But beer was certainly foremost on the partners' minds.

"We both knew that each of us had the itch to turn our passion for brewing into a business," Boehm said in a 2023 interview.

Technically, North Pillar Brewing is a food venue as well, but according to its website the main attraction in that regard is food trucks parked onsite. Inside, bar snacks — including frozen pizza from Maplewood Meats, soft pretzels, chips, beef sticks and cheese curds — are available.

The brewery is open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Let It Be night club can open at any time ... if key staffers are found

A Beatles-eque venue years in the making stands ready to open in downtown Waukesha, but with one important caveat.

Let It Be, the restaurant bar whose name is derived from the 1970 Beatles song and whose stage area is modeled on the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, is lacking only one element: a full staff. "I tell you what, if you find me a couple of bartenders and a chef, I'll open," said owner Dave Meister, whose vision for the venue remains ever in focus. "Everything is done."

But not just any staff. The right staff, Meister added.

Like the venue itself, which has been in the works for roughly seven years at 716 Clinton St. and whose stage began taking shape (brick by brick) in 2020 , the staff he wants has to be inspired by something other than simply a paycheck.

"I want some good people who want to be there from the get-go and make it a great place and (help) build a reputation," Meister said. "I'm on the hunt for a great chef ... who's there for just the best cuisine. And of course would throw in some British food, too. And the other thing is that I need to have a bartender who is a mixologist and likes to do things that are innovative."

A fortunate few, especially those who attended a May 4 fundraiser at Let It Be for the Waukesha Christmas Parade memorial in Grede Park, have had glimpses of the club, a fully customized interior with high-level highlights. Meister said the specialized staff will be the final touch, and he welcomes those who get what he is hoping to find.

"I get emails almost every other day asking when it's going to open," Meister acknowledged.

Hours for the business have not been set, nor has a particular opening date. It is, however, available for rent for special events, he said.

Do you have a retail business, restaurant or entertainment venue that's opening or has recently opened in Waukesha County? Email us at news@jrn.com with some information about the business and contacts.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha's summer includes 3 new businesses, with Indian food, craft beers and Beatles