Chicago Investors Acquire Former Milwaukee Restaurant Building for Medical Clinic
A New Chapter for 2730 N. King Drive
A former Milwaukee restaurant building located at 2730 N. King Drive has been sold to a Chicago-based investors group, marking a new chapter for the property. The 6,800-square-foot building, which previously housed a barbecue restaurant called Q, was purchased for $850,000 by AH 2730 MLK Dr Milwaukee WI LLC. This entity shares an address with the Atwater Group, a commercial real estate investment and development firm based in Chicago. While representatives from Atwater Group did not respond to requests for comment, the sale signals a shift in the building’s purpose, as it is now slated to become a medical clinic.
The Buyer and Their Vision
The buyer, AH 2730 MLK Dr Milwaukee WI LLC, is linked to the Atwater Group, a firm known for its focus on commercial real estate investment and development. The group’s involvement suggests that the property will undergo significant renovations to meet the needs of its new tenant. However, the Atwater Group has not provided additional details about their plans or timeline for the project. The sale was made possible by the previous owner, King’s Fresh Market Group LLC, a local entity that had acquired the building in 2016 with plans to develop a supermarket—a project that never came to fruition.
A Medical Clinic for the Community
The building’s future is now tied to ArchWell Health, a Nashville-based healthcare provider specializing in primary care for seniors. According to building permit applications filed with the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, the space is being renovated to house an ArchWell clinic. This marks a significant transformation for the property, which has primarily served as a restaurant in recent years. ArchWell Health did not respond to inquiries about the projected opening date of the clinic, but the organization’s expansion into Milwaukee reflects a growing demand for healthcare services tailored to older adults.
The Building’s History
The property at 2730 N. King Drive has had a varied history since its construction. It originally opened as a Ponderosa steakhouse in 2002, a restaurant that was a popular destination for many years. After Ponderosa closed, the space was occupied by Stella’s Restaurant, which operated until 2010. The building then stood vacant for several years before being briefly home to Q, a barbecue restaurant that opened in 2021.
The City of Milwaukee acquired the property through a property tax foreclosure before selling it to King’s Fresh Market Group in 2016. At the time, the buyer had ambitious plans to develop a supermarket on the site, but those plans never materialized. The building has now changed hands once again, and its conversion into a medical clinic represents a new direction for the property.
A Missed Opportunity for a Supermarket
King’s Fresh Market Group LLC had initially intended to transform the building into a grocery store, a project that would have addressed the need for better access to fresh food in the area. However, those plans never came to fruition, leaving the property underutilized for years. The failure to develop a supermarket underscores the challenges of revitalizing commercial properties in certain neighborhoods and highlights the importance of attracting investment to ensure the success of such projects.
The Road Ahead
The sale of the building to the Chicago-based investors group and its planned conversion into an ArchWell Health clinic represent a positive step forward for the property and the surrounding community. The arrival of a medical clinic could help address healthcare needs in the area, particularly for seniors, while also injecting new life into the building and the neighborhood. However, questions remain about the timeline for the project and the broader impact of the clinic on local healthcare access.
As the renovation plans move forward, residents will likely be watching closely to see how this new development unfolds. The transformation of 2730 N. King Drive from a restaurant to a medical clinic is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of urban real estate and the potential for underutilized properties to find new purpose.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For more updates on Milwaukee’s business and real estate landscape, consider subscribing to the BusinessWatch newsletter or following reporter Tom Daykin on social media platforms.
