600 EAST Cafe, Home of the Giannis Mural

Built in 1913 by architects Schnetzky & Sons for the Milwaukee Gas Light Company, 600 EAST was renovated by its current owner, Dan Nelson, Jr., to house his marketing agency, Nelson Schmidt Inc., on the second and third floors (2006) and to reintroduce retail at street level to the east end of Wisconsin Avenue with the 600 EAST Café & Business Center (2014).

Visitors are welcomed to visit 600 EAST Café & Business Center and examine the exposed architectural features in one of the few 3-story buildings on E. Wisconsin Ave. remaining from the early 1900’s. 600 EAST features several historical large-format photographs of the building and Milwaukee’s Central Business District, exquisitely restored “Chicago Pink” brick, massive steel beam superstructure, and old-growth forest wooden floor joists, giving Doors Open visitors a look at Milwaukee’s past and present.

In 2022, the three-story mural of Milwaukee Bucks star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was painted on the east side of the building by artist Mauricio Ramirez. The recreation of the nearly 7-foot-tall forward towers 54 feet over downtown Milwaukee. While the exterior wall houses the 3-story mural, the inside wall features another surprising piece of Milwaukee’s past that visitors to the building will really enjoy.

The Café will have food and beverages available for purchase.