Cherry unveils site for new restaurant
Podcast Episode
The owner of a well-known Janesville restaurant is preparing to open a new restaurant at a new location. Kyle Geissler reports.
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The Time Out Pub & Eatery, a new restaurant owned by Brian Cherry, will open sometime before Christmas in the ground floor of the Helgesen Building, 101 E. Milwaukee St., Janesville. Cherry formerly owned Cherry’s Steak and Prime on North Franklin Street in Janesville, which is now Steve and Holly’s.
JANESVILLE — A new restaurant owned by a familiar face is expected to boost the revitalization of downtown Janesville.
Brian Cherry plans to open Time Out Pub & Eatery before Christmas on the ground floor of the Helgesen Building at Main and Milwaukee streets.
Cherry owned and operated Cherry's Steak and Prime on North Franklin Street starting in 1995, although he'd worked at the restaurant since 1983 when it was called The Lounge. Cherry's parents, Don and Ruth, bought it in 1984 and sold it to their son in 1995.
In early August, the Cherrys sold the building on North Franklin Street to Steve and Holly Milz, who reopened it as Steve & Holly's.
Ever since, Brian Cherry has been working at Gray's Tied House in Verona and looking for a new spot for his Janesville restaurant.
Cherry hooked up with Eric Schwartz, president of Middleton-based Sara Investment Real Estate, which earlier this year bought the Helgesen Building, a five-story, 52,000-square-foot office building at 101 E. Milwaukee St.
Cherry is leasing about 3,100 square feet that at one time housed Mutual Savings Bank. The restaurant and bar will seat about 100, twice as many as Cherry could accommodate on Franklin Street.
Time Out will serve lunch and dinner from a menu that won't include anything more expensive than $12.95, he said.
"It will be a lot of the same type of food as we had at Cherry's, but a little more casual," he said. "It will be like some of the pubs and eateries you see on corners in Milwaukee and Chicago. Lots of glass so people can see what's going on outside. It's a busy intersection."
Cherry said he hopes to draw solid lunch crowds. He'll feature homemade pizzas that he learned to make while working in Verona, plus a variety of sandwiches, wraps, steaks and shrimp.
Eight to 10 LCD TVs will carry sporting events. Dining will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the bar will be open later.
"But there won't be a pool table or any dart boards," he said.
Earlier this week, Sara Investment started to renovate the building, which includes work for the restaurant and remodeling of lobbies, elevators, bathrooms; new windows, and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
Sara is leasing other spaces in the building.
Schwartz has said the renovated Helgesen Building will help downtown revitalization efforts. A key component of his project, he said, is the city's commitment to build a new parking ramp at Parker Drive and Wall Street. A significant portion of the parking stalls in the three- to four-deck ramp would be designated for Helgesen Building tenants, with the rest for public parking.
"Without the parking ramp, that building would stay like it is forever," Schwartz said in after buying the building.
Earlier this summer, Schwartz said he was negotiating with a major tenant for the building. Those negotiations continue, he said.
Gale Price, manager of Janesville's Building and Development Services, said the new restaurant is good news for the downtown in general and the Helgesen Building in particular.
"We're looking forward to it, and it should work out well with the office building," Price said.
Nov 14, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.
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Tom3205 -
You are yet another person putting a negative spin on a positive situation. Quit being so cheap and look at the larger picture, will you? Janesville wants to revitalize downtown. For this to happen, fine entreprenours like Cherry remain loyal to the city by staying downtown rather re-locating to the northside only to blend in with all the other cookie-cutter eateries. Secondly, parking meters create revenue for the city thus adding to the revitalization efforts.
In case you haven't noticed, and judging by your comment you haven't, Janesville could use as much revenue as possible. So as you open your heart, mind, and coin-purse, watch out for the flying bats!
Nov 14, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
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bignik, the Connor Dairy location is in limbo because of the inability, so far, of the Hendricks Group to find a suitable anchor tenant (in theory a full-service grocery store). Cherry apparently had some kind of agreement to move there but presumably it expired a while back as he sold the business he was planning to move. It's not his fault, and it isn't the city's fault either. Clearing the site may well have been a step to show commitment to the site's development.
Nov 14, 2008 at 10:14 a.m.
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happycamper, i dont recal anywhere anymore you have to actually pay. i know there are limited times on the parking in places and could get a ticket. Still cheaper than parking in chicago- the ticket i mean. So you might have to go move you car after a COUPLE of hours. big deal. most would be done eating in that time anyway. And most have their own parking lot.
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:26 p.m.
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Where do you have to pay to park around Main & Milwaukee? Get off your nickle!
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
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Thank god not another chain rest.! Good Luck! I love the Speakeasy and the Armory! def positive for Janesville!
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:34 p.m.
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Good Luck!
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:56 p.m.
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Hannah..I think because they wanted a bigger Kitchen and bar(not sure) but I love their Friday fish fry.
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.
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funny gfa- i have staggered up that st maryss hill a few times my self!! 10 minutes down to get to drink and hours up the hill chatting and resting.
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.
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Bars only staggering distance apart is the way to go.
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.
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i dont know Tom maybe because the food is good. Not all places have a fee for parking downtown.
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.
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Not everyone in this town is cheap. Meters or no meters.
Nov 13, 2008 at 3:04 p.m.
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FREE PARKING,, FREE PARKING, FREE PARKING, NOT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Why would anyone go downtown if they have to feed those lousy meters???
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
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Is this sentence missing a word or two?
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"...Schwartz said in after buying the building."
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:43 p.m.
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The Metropolitan is by far the best in town. Congrats to Cherry's moving downtown!
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.
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rcs16- do you know why they moved down the street?
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
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yes sorry forgot metropolitin. very good too. there are so few hard to remember them.
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:32 p.m.
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Great, another restaurant trying to make it down town. Why not just open it in the fourth ward. Location, Location, Location.
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
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Wow Hannah...ever heard of the Metropolitian. The best food in town. They have been downtown far longer then the Armory and Speakeasy. Easily the best kept secret in town.
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.
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I definitely wish him luck in this economy. Obviously he has more chance than the average restaurant entrepreneur to succeed (90% of restaurants fail within the first three years). But these are challenging times even for an experienced hand.
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This is going to be where the bank used to be, right? I think that's a great use for the location. But yes, they'll need parking.
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:37 p.m.
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What we all forget about is the now beautiful "MUD PIT" that will sit vacant for how long now on the corner of Center Avenue and West Holmes Street. Bravo to Mr. Cherry for improving the downtown revitalization. I am excited to try out your new establishment. Lets not forget the original site........A vacant mud pit that so many have quickly forgotten. This busy corridor would have been an excellent area for a restaurant of such!!! High traffic volume, perfect fit for the place. Not to mention the supposed grocery store that was / is supposed to be going in as well. We all should give a big thumbs down to our local city administration for not following thru on this!!! Just what Janesville needs right now, another sore thumb!!!!!!!
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.
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newswacko, don't forget the ever popular instant cash store!
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:08 p.m.
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He might mean he has a mouse in his pocket.
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.
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I am just disappointed that he is not opening a Mexican restaurant or an auto-parts store.
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:40 p.m.
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localboy:
By using the term "we" should readers assume that you have an equity position in a competing casual restaurant? Or by "we" do you mean you?
As for "need" the market will determine whether Cherry's will succeed or fail.
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
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I also enjoyed Cherry's. But, what we don't need is another restaurant.
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:24 a.m.
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Congratulations, Brian! Can't wait to visit the new place.
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:36 a.m.
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Definatly will visit though.Can walk there drink alot and stumble home haha.
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:34 a.m.
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I wish they would do a nicer restaurant. We have enough CASUAL places and bar like places to eat at. We dont have enough Nice food and decor. SPeakeasy,armory are the only two in janesville that are NICE. We went to Cafe Belwau in Beliot wher ethe chef from Fusion 5 went too. Very good . Very nice decor.Something in between apple bees and speakeasy would be nice.
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
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The homemade pizzas Brian Cherry did at the Tied House were awesome, as were all of the other offerings!
It will be worth a visit to the new place just for one of those pizzas.
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.
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Awesome, never had a bad meal, or drink, at Cherries. Hopefully their open by Dec 16 for 2 for 1 hamburgers.
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