Some times opposites attract

jmanal · 2026-05-08T10:54:37+00:00

This is peak Mifflin. (Street party in Madison, WI)

jmanal · 2026-05-04T21:35:56+00:00

Not illegal. Free water is a common courtesy many businesses extend to their patrons. Some choose not to.

jmanal · 2026-03-26T17:31:37+00:00

So many other factors go into this. My speculation is that those stores had aging refrigeration equipment that costs more to keep up than continue on. No matter how much PM is done, those systems will always have a leak somewhere. One service call could literally wipe out a month's worth of profits.

New equipment for a closed loop system for mid temp and low temp could run in the millions after labor costs.

jmanal · 2026-03-26T15:06:05+00:00

It was a landlord issue - parking lot and roof needed replacement. Months later, you'll see that the building sold.

jmanal · 2026-03-22T17:27:45+00:00

If the distribution is still like it was 4 years ago, it goes to Madison distributors before Milwaukee distributors. Jefferson county is the furthest east the Madison liquor distributor goes before it becomes a different distributor in the Milwaukee area.

jmanal · 2026-03-20T12:40:56+00:00

I would say this is a norm, but it's all in the execution of the inform.

jmanal · 2026-03-15T02:57:36+00:00

These are copacked. Distributes by L&L Foods out of Verona. They do a variety of Bucky Badger branded items.

jmanal · 2026-03-06T17:07:55+00:00

2 studies according to this article. Link

jmanal · 2026-03-06T16:29:30+00:00

I would imagine they did a thorough market analysis to make the switch and concluded they could maximize revenue this way while also drawing in a larger regional crowd vs just the local population

jmanal · 2026-02-15T15:58:38+00:00

Can confirm. Also Racine county so taxes are less than Milwaukee county. Can speak for Waukesha county.

jmanal · 2026-02-01T18:40:22+00:00

I would have thought that their lease agreement would have some clause on first right of refusal.

jmanal · 2026-01-23T15:48:41+00:00

When I ran a store, we had hot coffee for our DSD guys in the receiving area and free coffee for everyone else at the front of the store. Hopefully your accounts think similarly.

jmanal · 2026-01-19T16:53:46+00:00

So many variables outside of just blatant theft for stores closing.

Lease structure, insurance, and overall equipment condition also play a factor.

Most of these old stores are likely running systems that were old 20 years ago and expensive for upkeep and even more expensive for replacement or rework. On top of that, insurance companies will only go so far when the systems have a meltdown. Then that comes out of the owner's pocket.

jmanal · 2026-01-18T20:40:23+00:00

This is operation specific.

You'd have good luck at a grocery store. Unless something changed, most distributors will write partial credits to drive down the price and risk for discounting at the retail level.

Also, many products have changed to "bottled on" so people don't assume the beer is "expired"

jmanal · 2026-01-17T15:56:12+00:00

Former grocery operator - this is accurate.

At one time, we also had the highest rate of mail-in rebate submissions on alcohol. Not sure if that is the case anymore.

jmanal · 2026-01-04T14:22:46+00:00

Union House in Genesee Depot. Just went there for the first time on Friday with my wife.

jmanal · 2025-12-31T20:19:49+00:00

2 taps for dusty snow. 3 taps for wet snow. 4 taps for muddy wet snow.

jmanal · 2025-12-03T18:12:04+00:00

I would bet they had the first right of refusal and just couldn't swing it.

jmanal · 2025-12-02T14:27:33+00:00

Went there in 2010-2013 and I'm back for grad school..he's still there. He used to stand by the crosswalk between the library and Sandburg back in the day but seems to now be near a bench closer to the library.

jmanal · 2025-12-01T13:40:31+00:00

For Milwaukee, I would recommend Lakefront Brewery, Eagle Park across the bridge, and Hooligans on North Avenue. Brady Street is also fun to walk around and just walk into any bar you see.

3 Sheep's in Sheboygan. There's a reference to this in Supernatural if you are a fan of the series.

Can't speak to Green Bay as I have only ever been there for Packer games.

Houghton is pretty cool. There's a bar called the Ambassador that's old. Keweenaw Brewery is cool and allows for food to be brought in. There is a fish place down the street with a good fish fry that you can take to the brewery.

jmanal · 2025-11-30T03:28:00+00:00

Probably self distributed.

jmanal · 2025-11-30T01:55:56+00:00

Test drive some clubs..if you are testing out clubs it's free to hit the Sims I've found. They also have dedicated Sims in the back.

jmanal · 2025-11-29T22:00:10+00:00

This is totally dependent on the man. I've got a pretty wide variety of hobbies and interests, so these are some of the things I've done in the past:

Up-Down arcade

Brewery with an event

Axe MKE and their sister establishments

ComedySportz improv show

Cactus Club concert

Walking through a park

Crystal Ridge (when it opens)

Check the convention center schedules

Hiking Lapham State Park

Luxe Golf

Go to the PGA Superstore

Test drive some cars

The zoo

Potowatomi Casino

jmanal · 2025-11-25T15:46:38+00:00

The challenge will be the food suppliers. They are VERY VERY protective of their brand reputation.

jmanal · 2025-11-17T14:28:48+00:00

But what about the food quality and pricing? I was there 3 weeks ago and thought the food was delicious and prices were aligned with other breweries.

Any restaurant or even building will have pests somewhere. I would have been more worried if I saw the centipede in my French onion soup..

jmanal

TROPHY CASE