King’s Fresh Market Group LLC has purchased the former Stella’s restaurant on King Drive from the City of Milwaukee and is planning to turn the site into a neighborhood grocery store.
The group, led by Bruce Martin, a real estate investor and former principal of Lena’s Food Market, purchased the vacant 6,846-square-foot building for $100,000. In September, the group expressed interest in the building, which originally opened as a Ponderosa Steakhouse in 2002.
According to documents filed with the city, Tamora Martin will manage and operate King’s Fresh Market with Bruce Martin’s oversight. Tamora Martin has spent the bulk of her career in the financial services and real estate industries.
King’s Fresh Market will offer prepared foods, fresh meats, fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy products, dry goods and a small variety of household goods. It will also be a learning center and educate its customers about healthy eating, according to the application filed with the city.
The grocery store will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood as city and business leaders attempt to address the issue of food deserts. Some areas of the City of Milwaukee, particularly on the north and west sides, are in “food deserts,” where there are a lack of full service grocery stores with fresh and healthy food options.
The Martin’s received a $140,000 loan from the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. in June to purchase the building and begin renovations.
