Hubbard Park Lodge, Shorewood’s much-loved treasure and historic landmark, has a new proprietor. Milwaukee restaurateur Russ Davis has signed a 10-year lease with the Village to operate the Lodge and the nearby Shorewood River Club. Davis brings extensive expertise to the venture with his experience as owner of the Vecchio Entertainment Group, which includes Lakefront Palm Garden (inside the Lakefront Brewery on Commerce St.), Rio West Cantina (on Humboldt Ave. in the Riverwest neighborhood), and The Red Accordion (in downtown Milwaukee).
Davis, a Shorewood resident, has some exciting plans for the Lodge. He says his goal is to attract families on a more regular basis. On his agenda is a Sunday morning family-friendly, lumberjack breakfast with pancakes and an omelet bar. Friday nights will bring the fun, quality and affordability of Captain Rusty’s popular fish fries along with The Brewhaus Polka Kings, already famous at the Lakefront Palm Garden.
Davis is looking forward to the new restaurant. “My wife and I are thrilled to take over operations at Hubbard Park Lodge. This historic building is an absolute gem and we are honored to begin a new era of restaurant operations that we hope will please our neighbors. Bringing the community together for good food and exceptional service in a family-friendly atmosphere are our primary goals,” he says.
The Lodge will keep its tradition of being open to the public on weekends and closed for private affairs during the week – plus the special buffet on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter. And as always, it will remain a beautiful setting for Saturday afternoon and evening weddings.
Hubbard Park celebrated 71 years last fall – it is one of 13 identical structures built across the U.S. as a Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) Project initiated by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration during the Great Depression. Our Hubbard Park Lodge is one of only two of the original buildings left standing (the other is just outside Washington, D.C.).