MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Just within the past few months, three businesses have closed along Water Street, including The Low Country restaurant, Duke’s on Water and Silk on Water.

Silk on Water cited safety concerns when they announced plans to close temporarily in August.

The “Uppa Yard on Water” restaurant opened in August on Water Street, right across from where Low Country operated for several years.

“We are the first Jamaican cuisine restaurant located in the downtown area,” Lead Manager John Jordan said. “We’re located next to several different bars and different age groups.” 

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Ava Stroessner lives on Water Street near the restaurant and has seen the area get a bad rap.

“I feel like a lot of people have gotten scared to come down to Water Street and I just feel like that can be fixed,” Stroessner said.

Uppa Yard on Water is trying to do just that by bringing a new perspective.

“We’ve seen a lot of other establishments that have closed in the area, but we hope that what we’re bringing back in this area are things such as a more mature crowd, a more inviting crowd and a crowd that everyone feels safe and secure,” Jordan said.

The restaurant will close early on weekends with safety for customers in mind.

“It gives the opportunity for our guests to leave here safely so that they’re not caught up in the crowd,” Jordan said. “It’s not the establishments that cause the issues.”

While the restaurant plans to feature a full Jamaican menu and an inviting environment, the goal will always be safety.

“I just want to make sure that I am safe, this kind of environment is making me a little more skeptical about the safety of myself being here,” Stroessner said.