Developer planning to fill gap on Milton Avenue
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JANESVILLE — Milton Avenue in Janesville has a new hole that a developer hopes to fill in short order.
The Janesville-based Kaiser Property Group bought the land and building at 3502 Milton Ave. earlier this year.
Longtime Janesville residents will remember the property as the home of Country Kitchen.
That restaurant closed in 2006 and reopened shortly thereafter as CK Grill & Bar. CK closed the following year and the building became home to Road Dawg Saloon and Eatery.
That bar and grill has since moved to nearby Morse Street, and the Milton Avenue property then housed Sidekicks Saloon.
Sidekicks closed, and Kaiser Property bought the property. The company auctioned off restaurant equipment in September and demolished the building late last month.
"We could have gone either way on leaving the building up," said Todd Kaiser, owner of the development company as well as Kaiser Transport in Janesville.
Kaiser said he had people interested in the land and the building, but none of the projects were what he was looking for on a prime piece of real estate next to Interstate 90/39.
Kaiser said he's already had interest in the now-vacant parcel from four companies, even though the property is not yet listed anywhere.
He said the parcel probably would be best used as a restaurant site.
"In the end, I just decided that Janesville needed a little bit nicer-looking building at that spot," he said. "Newer buildings look better, and looks are important when you're trying to get people off the Interstate as well as those coming from in town."
City property records indicate the land and building were sold in 2011 for $476,000 as part of a sheriff's sale. Kaiser bought the land and building—which were assessed at $555,000—for $218,700 in January, according to city records.
Dec 18, 2012 at 1:18 p.m.
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Panera Bread might consider that idea if its audience wasn't predominantly truck drivers. It also helps if your city council knows basic math.
Dec 18, 2012 at 12:28 p.m.
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yada, that construction is for Planet Fitness.
Dec 18, 2012 at 12:06 p.m.
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rtabb- not a golden coral. Avenue grill. Should get story on this site soon. In paper today. AMerican Grill. onwed by a Shabani. Possible relative of owner of Eagle Inn?
Nov 12, 2012 at 5:02 p.m.
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frogger, Little Joe died.
Nov 12, 2012 at 1:41 p.m.
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If decided to become another restaurant why not Red Lobster(knowing Janesville had one many years ago)or a Sonic or Golden Corral(heard that rumor too)...This way one does not have to go to Madison/Milwaukee when preferring these types and support their own local economy like here in Janesville as this local economy could use all the help it can get to recover from so much hardships over the years...I was born and raised just outside the limits of Janesville and went to school here upon graduation in 81..Moved away but visit every chance I get and continue spending my dollars here(i.e..Woodmans/Farm and Fleet/Big Lots the list goes on) instead of where I live now because of the convenience and being a name brand kinda town that I remember when growing up here.Does anyone miss "Geri's" Hamburger as much as I do?.. What ever is built there either restaurant or whatever it will bring needed money/jobs to a city that I still hold dear in my heart and like I said...visit as much as possible.
Nov 10, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.
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Panera - would be great and I know they have considered Janesville as a restaurant site before.
Anyone know what all of the construction is for taking place behind Cost Cutters, Big Lots & building connected to it - looks pretty large
Nov 9, 2012 at 3:54 p.m.
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I agree Panera Bread please!
Nov 9, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.
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;(
Nov 9, 2012 at 1:12 p.m.
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frogger, i've heard its gonna be a Golden Corral
Nov 9, 2012 at 1:05 p.m.
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NO MORE FAST FOOD AND NO MORE FRANCHISES!!
And yes...Panera is fast-food & a franchise.
How about another Payday Loan business? We never seem to have enough of these around here. **sarcastic font**
Nov 9, 2012 at 12:03 p.m.
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Any word on what is going in old Ponderosa?
Nov 9, 2012 at 12:02 p.m.
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So just a builder owns it for now?
Hope it is something good. Enough tacos already. Chilies is yummy.
Nov 9, 2012 at 11:46 a.m.
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seconded or am I third
Nov 9, 2012 at 11:39 a.m.
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Equinox, I would sign that petition in a heartbeat!
Nov 9, 2012 at 10:59 a.m.
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http://www.panerabread.com/
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