The FREEMAN Brookfield & Elm Grove THIS MONTH MARCH 2018 Brookfield Square plans moving forward Hotel, theater, more eyed for mall’s south end PERMIT NO. 3 WI WAUKESHA, PAID US POSTAGE STD PRSRT By Hannah Weikel [email protected] 262-513-2651 BROOKFIELD — Brook- field Square Mall’s south end will soon look entirely different, city officials say. Redevelopment plans and INSIDE land acquisitions are well underway in the mall’s south end, which will see a new conference center, hotel, a movie theater and several high-end restau- rants in the next few years. The plan to revitalize Brookfield Square and spin it forward as an entertain- ment destination has been an ongoing collaboration Youth hockey between city government, Submitted rendering mall owner CBL & Associ- Brookfield Square could see a major redevelopment on the mall’s south end where Sears is located. Mall owner CBL Properties fosters love ates Properties Inc. and would build a cinema and billiards facility in its place. local tourism authorities at of the game Visit Brookfield — all have devoted time and money to city of Brookfield.” Sears Auto Center nearby. to update and diversify the With CBL Properties Page 2A ensure the mall stays rele- “CBL made it clear from store offerings, like a two- investing in Brookfield vant in the age of online Underperformance to the beginning that this was story Barnes & Noble book- Square, city officials have shopping and specialty entertainment going to be an entertain- store built several years also decided to purchase 9.5 Ephemera stores, said Brookfield Sears at Brookfield ment development going ago, said Dan Ertl, city acres surrounding the Mayor Steve Ponto. Square Mall announced it forward,” Ponto said. community development Sears Auto Center and often not Historically, the mall has will close later in 2018, tak- “Because of online shop- director. build a conference center done fine on its own. It’s ing a rather sleepy side of ping and shopping changes “But this is five leaps for- and hotel in its place. worth located right off Interstate the mall into a tailspin. in general, malls feel like ward,” Ertl said of the The city recently entered 94 in a city with middle- to But CBL Properties, a they need to offer enter- south end redevelopment a purchase agreement with much high-income residents and Chattanooga, Tenn.-based tainment.” plan. CBL Properties for around a swelling workforce that The BistroPlex theater $850,000 per acre for the 9.5 Page 4A company that owns dozens Creating synergy brings thousands of people of malls including Brook- would feature Dream- acres — 2.5 of which will into the area every day. field Square, had made Lounger recliner seating, a Sears will still have a be resold to North Central Brookfield Square has another announcement standalone bar and lounge, small presence in the mall Group, a Middleton-based Cartier adapted and reinvented several months before; the and dining inside all eight with an approximately hotel property manager, for itself over the years with mall’s south end would be screening rooms. Next 18,000 square-foot store a 170-room Hilton Garden leads very little local govern- completely redeveloped door, the first WhirlyBall selling appliances and mat- Inn attached to the confer- ment involvement, but and was the future location facility in Wisconsin will tresses, he said. ence center. North Central charge that’s starting to change. of a Marcus BistroPlex cin- have a number of courts A CBL Properties has also agreed to manage “We have to do all we can ema, WhirlyBall facility devoted to a game that spokesman declined to the conference center, said for to ensure that the mall does and several new restau- melds whiffle ball, bumper comment for this story and Andy Inman, vice presi- well into the future,” Ponto rants. cars and lacrosse. said the company won’t dent of development. Spartans said. “Brookfield Square is CBL Properties bought Since CBL Properties release additional details of A four-lane road would very, very important to the Sears last year, along with bought the mall in the early the redevelopment for Page 4B economic wellbeing of the a detached and defunct 2000s, they’ve taken steps another few months. See MALL, PAGE 2A 256542001 FEATURING: PREMIER SOUND STAGE • FANTASTIC FOOD • FUN DRINKS • BACON SEEDOWNLOAD WHAT OUR ELSE APP ISAND RECEIVE MANY DISCOUNTS! HAPPENING AT SALOON! Saloon on Calhoun with Bacon owners Jennine Paoli and Dave Dayler say, “Come join the fun!” MON-THURS 4:00PM-CLOSE • FRI-SUN 11:00AM-CLOSE WWW.SALOONONCALHOUN.COM • 262-783-0222 17000 W. CAPITOL DR., BROOKFIELD, WI 53005 In the US Bank parking lot on Calhoun & Capitol The FREEMAN Brookfield & Elm Grove THIS MONTH Inside Cartier leads charge for Spartans MARCH 2018 LIFE SECTION B >> SPORTS/ 4B ‘It’s not dumb, dirty and dangerous’ Leaders discuss changes in manufacturing By Dave Fidlin Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD — Amid the backdrop of a well-publicized skilled labor shortage, local busi- ness leaders gathered for a sym- posium to discuss the state of the manufacturing industry in Southeastern Wisconsin. The Waukesha County Busi- ness Alliance hosted the panel discussion, “Manufacturing Voic- es,” at the Sheraton Hotel in Brookfield on Jan. 26. Several hundred people attended the event at a time when all eyes are on the industry with Foxconn’s imminent arrival in Racine County. The panelists included Jennifer Hansen, general manager and owner of New Berlin-based Trelleborg/Anderson Packaging; Dirk Maroske, president and CEO of Lake Mills-based Aztalan Engineering Inc.; Dave Morrow, president and CEO of North Prairie-based Zero Zone Inc.; and John O’Connell, president CFO and COO of Waukesha-based Geo-Synthetics LLC. Roxanne Baumann, director of global engagement with the Wis- consin Manufacturing Extension Photo Courtesy of the Waukesha County Business Alliance Partnership, served as the moder- The Waukesha County Business Alliance hosted the panel discussion, “Manufacturing Voices,” at the Sheraton Hotel in Brookfield on Jan. 26. ator of the 75-minute discussion. Throughout the discussion, Baumann and panelists frequent- turing. Several panelists, howev- Hansen and other panelists products are assembled, none of out the discussion. ly discussed efforts to recruit tal- er, pointed out the sector as a said they try and provide job the panelists said they believed Although it calls Southeastern ent at a time when a labor short- whole still faces challenging shadowing and mentorship developments such as artificial Wisconsin home, Morrow said age still exists. Although percep- headwinds. opportunities to interested stu- intelligence would drastically Zero Zone is willing to work with tions have chipped away in recent “For some kids, it’s the right dents, whenever possible. alter how they do business in the skilled professionals — particu- years, several speakers said there thing to do,” Maroske said of a “We believe in community and immediate future. larly engineers and regional sales are still challenging headwinds at four-year university. “For others, giving back... and helping peo- At Geo-Synthetics, for instance, managers — in other locales play. it’s not. I think it might take ple,” Hansen said of her compa- O’Connell said automation might through telecommuting. “It’s not dumb, dirty and dan- another decade to change the per- ny’s corporate philosophy. not necessarily lead to cost-effec- Hansen said referrals, commu- gerous,” Baumann said in ception.” During the discussion, pan- tive outcomes in the long run. nity involvement and networking describing the jobs in need of fill- Programs such as STEM — or elists also were asked about Speaking to the manufacturing opportunities have helped in ing across the industry today. science, technology, engineering automation within the industry process within his business, bringing skilled talent to her The notion students must and math — are giving students a and how artificial intelligence O’Connell said, “It requires a sig- business at a time of robust attend a four-year university to taste of some of the jobs that might impact job availability in nificant amount of interaction.” growth. achieve success in life is slowly might be available, post-gradua- the future. While some of the discussion “I think your ‘A’ employees will being eroded as light has been tion. Many school districts across While continued technological was granular and technical, the refer ‘A’ employees,” Hansen shed on the family-supporting the region are adding STEM into advances have, and will continue overarching topic of finding tal- said. “When talent comes your jobs available within manufac- their curriculum. to, change the nature of how ent emerged frequently through- way, take it.” BIG NEWS! * BIG NEWS! * BIG NEWS! The Front Porch is Reopening! for the Spring & Garden Season Friday March 16th 10,000 sq ft of inspiration! Realistic Silk Florals Home Decor Greenery & Succulents Unique Gifts & Cards Vintage & Paint 20% OFF Sil Homek& Decor! Boutique * Boutique * Boutique Women’s Clothing (Plus Sizes, too!) Purses * Sterling Jewelry * Readers Scarves * Fashion Jewelry New Hours: March 16th-May 27th! The Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 10am-5pm Front Porch Sun11am-4pm 1505 Hwy 164 South * Waukesha, WI 53186 262-521-2100 * www.ilovethefrontporch.com Across from the Waukesha WOODMAN’S Page 2A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove MARCH 2018 For the love of the game The FREEMAN Elmbrook Youth Hockey Association Established in 1859 champions sport Brookfield & Elm Grove By Chris Bennett involved with the club for three THIS MONTH Special to The Freeman years. In addition to being the president, Kaminsky is the head BROOKFIELD — As the sport of coach for one team and an assis- How to reach us hockey goes, so goes the Elmbrook tant coach for two additional 801 N.