Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee chef, restaurant owner not seeing expected RNC boost

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2024

Milwaukee chef, restaurant owner not seeing expected RNC boost

The head chef and owner of Milwaukee restaurant Amilinda says the expected boost from the upcoming Republican National Convention isn’t materializing, and even regulars won’t be showing up during convention week.

Gregory Leon has been running the Spanish-Portuguese restaurant for close to nine years in downtown Milwaukee, about two blocks away from the edge of the security zone for the RNC. In an interview Friday, he said the close proximity to the political event will put a damper on his business.

“It’s not just me,” he told WisBusiness.com. “It’s a lot of restaurants in the city that have not seen that boost that we were told would happen.”

Despite expectations, Amilinda hasn’t landed any RNC-related bookings, and Leon says he’s been hearing from regular customers that they’ll be staying away while the convention is underway July 15-18.

“It’s also just keeping our regulars away,” he said. “A lot of our regulars have told us that they’re not going to be coming downtown that week, which I completely understand. So not only are we not getting a boost, it’s also hindering our normal, you know, traffic.”

Leon also said “who I am and what I stand for” may not align fully with conservative convention-goers.

“I’m gay, I’m half-Jewish, I’m half-Latino … we do a lot of work with refugees, and raise money for lots of other causes,” he said, noting a quick Google search of the restaurant would reveal his own progressive viewpoint. “And I’m speculating. I’m not saying everybody who’s coming to the convention would feel that way, but, you know.”

The restaurant is typically only open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, but will be adding hours on the Monday and Tuesday of the convention week as well. Leon says he’s requested permits to be open until at least 2 a.m. on the days the convention takes place.

“We’re right next to one of the hotels where the press will be staying,” he said, referring to the nearby Marriott. “So we’re hoping, you know, we get some of that business.”

He argued organizers and tourism officials should be “a little more cautious” in their predictions about the convention’s immediate impact on local businesses, though he added he expects it will benefit the city overall.

“It’s a good, safe place with great things to do and great cuisine … I’m hoping that this translates to people coming next year for their vacation, or the following year,” he said. “I’m sure the people who are in the red zone, the security zone, are going to do great. I’m sure the businesses in the Pfizer Forum are going to do great. That’s awesome, good for them.”

But he added “maybe don’t paint it as” something that’s going to be great for everyone involved.

See more about the restaurant and find more convention coverage at WisPolitics.

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Related Topics:Convention Corridor Featured

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Milwaukee, WI

Texas Stars win against Milwaukee Admirals – The Rink Live

Published

3 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

The Texas Stars won when they faced the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. The final score was 5-2.

The Admirals started off strong and took the lead at the beginning of the game with

Reid Schaefer

scoring in the first period.

The Stars tied the game 1-1 in the first period when Tommy Bergsland scored.

Three goals were scored in the second period, and the Stars led 3-2 going in to the third period.

The Stars increased the lead to 4-2 early in the third period when

Cameron Hughes

beat the goalie.

The Stars increased the lead to 5-2 with 01.01 remaining of the third after a goal from

Arttu Hyry

Next games:

Both teams are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, with the Admirals facing the Rapids Griffins at 6 p.m. CST and the Stars playing the Wolves at 7 p.m. CST.

Milwaukee, WI

Taste & Toast happy-hour deals returning to downtown Milwaukee

Published

16 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Press Room

Taste & Toast happy-hour deals returning to downtown Milwaukee

Downtown Milwaukee will host its 11th annual Taste & Toast Feb. 23 to Feb. 27, with more than 30 restaurants offering discounted happy-hour prices on drinks and appetizers.

The deals will run from 4 to 7 p.m. each day. This year, those who partake in the event and fill out a short survey about their experience will be entered to win $200 worth of downtown dining gift certificates. Four winners will be chosen March 6.

Specials include fish fry bites at Third Coast Provisions ($6), mini chicken and waffles at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar ($6), a Wisco Old Fashioned at The Wicked Hop ($7), Irish tacos at McGillicuddy’s ($9), a mimosa flight at Explorium Brew Pub ($8) and a Milwaukee Mule at Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen ($7).

Several locations will offer non-alcoholic beverages and appetizers for vegan or gluten-free diners. Reservations are encouraged at restaurants that accept them.

Participating restaurants are:

Avli, 1818 N. Hubbard St.
The Bar at Saint Kate – the Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave.
Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria, 249 N. Water St.
Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen, 320 E. Clybourn St.
Cubanitas, 728 N. Milwaukee St.
The Edison, 322 N. Broadway
Electric Lime, 811 N. Jefferson St.
Elsa’s on the Park, 833 N. Jefferson St.
Explorium Brewpub, 143 W. St. Paul Ave.
Flourchild, 722 N. Milwaukee St.
Foy’s, 784 N. Jefferson St.
The Knick, 1030 E. Juneau Ave.
Las Gardenias, 305 N. Plankinton Ave.
Lobby Lounge at The Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
McGillycuddy’s Bar & Grill, 1135 N. Water St.
Merriment Social, 240 E. Pittsburgh Ave.
Mo’s Irish Pub, 142 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Mo’s … A Place for Steaks, 720 N. Plankinton Ave.
Motor Bar & Restaurant, 400 W. Canal St.
Oggie’s Kitchen & Bar, 411 E. Mason St.
Old German Beer Hall, 1009 N. King Drive
Onesto, 221 N. Broadway
Red Rock Saloon, 1227 N. Water St.
Smoke Shack, 332 N. Milwaukee St.
The Social American Tavern, 611 N. Broadway
Third Coast Provisions, 724 N. Milwaukee St.
Tre Rivali, 200 N. Broadway
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, 511 N. Broadway
Upper Bar, 111 E. Kilbourn Ave.
Ward’s House of Prime, 540 E. Mason St.
The Wicked Hop, 345 N. Broadway
Your Office, 763 N. Milwaukee St.

Interstate Parking will offer discounted parking to Taste and Toast patrons at select lots.

For full Taste and Toast menus, parking discounts, restaurant hours and more information, visit TasteToastMKE.com.

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Milwaukee, WI

Hoops roundup: Detroit Mercy moves to .500 with victory over Milwaukee

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2026

Press Room

Hoops roundup: Detroit Mercy moves to .500 with victory over Milwaukee

Detroit News staff and wires

Sophomore TJ Nadeau scored 25 points and senior Orlando Lovejoy added 24 as the University of Detroit Mercy beat the Milwaukee Panthers, 91-86, on Friday in Detroit.

The win was the third in a row for the Titans as they moved to 13-13 on the season and 10-7 in the Horizon League, where they are still in the hunt for a home playoff game.

Nadeau was 8-of-14 from the floor and a career-tying 6-of-10 from three, and Lovejoy was 7-of-13 overall and a perfect 10-of-10 at the charity stripe with seven rebounds and four assists.

UDM will look to extend its winning streak to four in a row when it hosts Green Bay on Senior Day Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

Shorthanded Thunder get past Nets

Jared McCain scored 21 off the bench and Chet Holmgren had 15 points and seven rebounds to help lift the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-86 home win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

The Thunder won for the third time in four games, while the Nets have lost three straight and six of their last eight.

Oklahoma City was again without reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous- Alexander, who is sidelined due to an abdominal strain, and Jalen Williams, who aggravated a right hamstring strain just before the All-Star break.

Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 22 points and nine rebounds but was just 1 of 9 from beyond the arc. Nolan Traore added 17 points and Day’Ron Sharpe chipped in 12 points and eight boards.

No. 7 Purdue sinks rival Indiana

Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 20 points and Fletcher Loyer and Omer Mayer each added 18 as No. 7 Purdue routed visiting Indiana 93-64 on Friday in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten), which has won five of its last six, never trailed while sending Indiana (17-10, 8-8) to its second straight loss.

The Boilermakers led by as many as 34, shooting 64.7% from the field, compared to 52.2% for the Hoosiers, and held a plus-15 edge on the glass.

Loyer and Mayer both drilled four 3-pointers while combining for just one miss from long range.

Lamar Wilkerson led Indiana with 20 points while Tayton Conerway (12), Tucker DeVries (11) and Reed Bailey (10) followed in double figures. Conerway dished seven assists. Sam Alexis led the Hoosiers with three rebounds.