Oak Creek residents could be able to raise their glass at a new permanent beer garden built partially with shipping containers in Abendschein Park next year.
The city’s Common Council unanimously approved an agreement between Oak Creek and Abendschein Park Beer Garden, LLC to operate a permanent beer garden called Abendschein Biergarten in the park at 1321 E. Drexel Ave.
Oak Creek is partnering with Michael Grab and Tony DeBartolo – Abendschein Park Beer Garden, LLC – who operate similar venues in Kenosha (Petrifying Springs Biergarten) and Bristol (Hansen Park Beer Garden) to run the space.
APBG is making an initial $200,000 investment to build out the space. A revenue sharing provision is included in an agreement between APBG and the City of Oak Creek where the city will be compensated with 15% of net sales.
It’s anticipated this agreement will yield between $40,000 and $60,000-plus in annual revenue for the City of Oak Creek.
The agreement is for an initial term of five years with two-year renewal terms subject to the approval of the city council. Provisions exist for the city to terminate the agreement if responsibilities are not met. APBG must follow city regulations regarding operating a beer garden business including managing the distribution of alcohol, providing security on the premises, and ensuring anyone selling or serving food/drink are appropriately licensed and trained, among other obligations.
A posting on the City of Oak Creek website noted the goal is to build the structure so the beer garden is ready for summer 2026. The pop-up beer gardens at Drexel Town Square will be discontinued at that time in favor of this new venue.
Development documents indicate the space will offer live music, food, a bocce ball court and more.
Work was recently completed on expanding the parking lot at Abendschein Park and improving the entry road off Drexel Avenue utilizing Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District funding.
A project long in the works
Oak Creek has been working to construct a beer garden at Abendschein Park for a few years. In 2022 the city was considering plans to construct a pavilion in the park north of the parking lot but those plans didn’t come to fruition.
After a few other concepts were determined to be not fiscally responsible, the city pivoted toward constructing a indoor/outdoor concept using shipping containers.
City Administrator Andrew Vickers said this has been a very long project but said this operating agreement will bring “a really cool beer garden amenity” to Oak Creek.
“We found a way with a new building concept to really have a viable product,” Vickers said.
Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz said the city held its first beer garden at Abendschein Park as a pop-up in 2018 in part to see if the community would be interested. He said it was very successful.
“We knew we had to find some partnerships going forward,” Bukiewicz said. “It has been kind of a long journey, but I really think it’s going to be worth the wait.”
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.