Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun are teaming together to launch a new restaurant in Brookfield.
Oak Creek-based -based Surg Restaurant Group announced today that Wisconsin’s two athletic Most Valuable Players will open a new restaurant called 8*twelve.
The restaurant, located at 17800 W. Bluemound Road in Brookfield, will offer family cuisine, as well as steaks and seafood with much of executive chef Aaron Patin’s preparation taking place on a wood fire grill, a center point of the kitchen.
Fans of both players will see memorabilia in the bar area, which will feature several big-screen televisions. The grand opening for the new restaurant is slated for June.
“Wisconsin has the greatest fans in the country,” Rodgers said in a press release issued by the SURG group. “This is an excellent opportunity for me to work with Ryan on a project that will create something for fans of the Packers, Brewers and sports in general, to take part in and enjoy.”
The new restaurant is located in a spot that formerly housed Charro. Braun’s name also is on Ryan Braun’s Graffito, a Surg restaurant in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.
“Aaron and I are not only great friends, but we both have whole-heartedly made long-term commitments to the sports fans of Wisconsin,” said Braun. “We wanted to give them a home base to celebrate their favorite teams and enjoy some great food and service.”
Omar Shaikh, co-owner of Surg, said the players both had input on the concept of 8*twelve and will make scheduled and unscheduled appearances throughout the year.
“Ryan’s involvement with Graffito has been such a positive experience for both sides, so when another opportunity presented itself in Brookfield, we all agreed to move forward,” Shaikh said. “Aaron had expressed interest in the business after visiting Graffito a few times and with his friendship with Ryan, 8*twelve just fell into place. This will be great for the Brookfield area.”
Mike Polaski, chief executive officer and co-owner of Surg, said plans for additional locations of 8*twelve are being considered.
