217 North Broadway

A former coffee roasting mill, commissioned by Wm. Rohnert in 1912, 217 Broadway is a beautifully preserved relic of the great American industrial age. The tangible evidence of its productive past has been carefully curated and remains on premises adding ages of character to the gracious light filled loft space. This is truly a space like no other in Milwaukee. Inside this historic building (included in the National Register of Historic Buildings), the remnants of a building wide network of machinery are exposed to add extraordinary depth of character to contemporary uses. These cast iron machines were made specifically for coffee roasting by Josiah Burns & Sons Machine Foundry in central New York City in 1885. Interconnected between the upper two floors are three coffee roasters, coffee bean storage hoppers, cup electors, and drop chutes mechanically linking the operations between floors and setting an indelible impression for all who enter. Located in the heart of the Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee’s leading creative hub, the neighborhood is home to galleries, offices in 19th century warehouses, performing arts venues like the Broadway Theater Center, and the campus of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Restaurants are upscale yet approachable; sidewalk dining is popular.