Bucks announce food and beverage plans for new arena including MKEat and Southside Market

MILWAUKEE (CBS 59) – The new Bucks arena has announced a new food experience called MKEat. The locally-focused food and beverage program will reflect Milwaukee’s food culture, with a focus on local products, differentiated service and unique culinary talent throughout the arena.

MKEat will include local food and beverage partners from Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin, including several quintessential Milwaukee brands that will offer fresh takes on their signature dishes. The establishments currently signed on include: Klement’s Sausage, Sobelman’s, The Laughing Taco, Gold Rush Chicken, Iron Grate BBQ, FreshFin Poké, Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Colectivo Coffee and Milwaukee Pretzel Company. Unique to the arena will be Canal Street Pizza, a new fresh pizza concept that was developed in conjunction with the Fallucca family, the original pizza family of Milwaukee and the founders of Palermo’s Pizza. Additionally, core menu items throughout the arena will include Klement’s Sausage and Wisconsin-based Sargento Cheese.

MKEat will open August 26.

“Milwaukee has an incredible legacy and emerging culinary scene that will be showcased by MKEat for all of our guests,” said Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin. “We are excited to combine the city’s signature tastes and flavors with renowned global brands that are based in Wisconsin to redefine the sports and entertainment culinary experience.”

When it comes to beverages MKEat will work with Miller Brewing to build upon their local and global beers. Local lifestyle brand Drink Wisconsinbly will entitle and curate three craft beer bars, presenting a rotating list of exclusive Wisconsin micro-beers.

The arena will also be home to the Southside Market, which was designed as a tribute to the popular Milwaukee Public Market. The new market will serve a variety of food and beverage options that will not be found anywhere else in the arena, providing a differentiated experience for guests on the upper level.

The Bucks have also confirmed that Chick-fil-A will bring a restaurant to downtown Milwaukee for the first time and Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling will serve as the official soft drink, bottled water and iced tea partner of the WESC.

The arena will carry an extensive collection of premier beverage providers, including Jack Daniel’s, Casamigos, a tequila company co-founded by George Clooney, RAMONA, an organic ruby grapefruit wine spritz, Absolut Vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey.

The new arena will have 17 free-standing kitchens; stainless steel, state-of-the-art equipment; dedicated pizza ovens; and a wood-fired smoker capable of handling up to 3,000 pounds of meat. Additionally, the venue’s equipment runs on natural gas, which makes it easier to keep grills and fryer oil consistently hot, in turn, serving more guests faster.