The Way I See It!

Stepping In The Right Direction

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on May 14, 2009

Cudahy, Development, Email

Two local investors who operate a pair of one-screen movie theaters plan to buy a former supermarket in Cudahy and convert it into a four-screen cinema with sit-down dining.

Larry Widen and David Glazer have agreed to buy the former Kohl's Food Store, 4630 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., and hope to complete their purchase by the end of July, Glazer said Wednesday.  The building is between Cudahy and Plankinton avenues, one block north of Layton Ave.

Widen and Glazer, who operate the Times Cinema, 5906 W. Vliet St., and Rosebud Cinema Drafthouse, 6823 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, plan to remodel the 17,000-square-foot building into a cinema, Glazer said.

The Rosebud Cinema Cudahy would include sit-down dining, with wine and beer served, similar to the Rosebud, Widen said.

I think this is a very positive step for Cudahy and is long over due.  I have been pushing for something at this site for 2 years and last year that something would be done about the graffiti and paint chipping.

My concern though is that environmental concerns were uncovered on the site specifically underground storage tanks on the lot, is how much is the remediation

What emails or what are some older residents in Cudahy saying about the old Kohl’s store and the theater mainly from older people is $440,000 in city money to bring it here.  Why not use the $440,000 to lower my property taxes? 

One person said they heard that Rosebud people have had some business tax issues in the past.  If it is true, I am sure the CDA and the City of Cudahy would have seen that doing their due diligence.

An email from a reader:

Hello Randy,

I am an avid reader of your column and generally agree with most of your opinions and enjoy hearing similar opinions, good & bad about our city of Cudahy. 

As I have now lived here for almost two years I also agree that, the city needs to take the initiative to make the necessary improvements to make Cudahy more relevant to the rest of Milwaukee with new jobs, appealing neighborhoods and decent entertainment besides 3 bars for every exit of Laddish. 

Since our elected representatives have decided that they will wait for the opportunities to appear, I wanted to pass along this article I read on JS Online about two investors from Wauwatosa whom are laying their claim in Cudahy and spending their money to bring an innovative form of entertainment to Cudahy and the south side with the Rosebud Cinema Cudahy. 

Since Larry Widen & David Glazer opened the Rosebud & Times in Wauwatosa they have taken going to the movies to the next level and offered Cudahy a glimpse back into the golden era of cinema that once made the city of Milwaukee a beacon of the film industry. 

By offering comfortable couches, delicious foods and stimulating refreshments they make going to the movies more of an experience than an over priced cafeteria with a large screen.  What they can offer this community is the start and other investors need to take the same cue and see the potential that our community has to offer.  As one person commented on the news (on Facebook) “Thank you for seeing the potential in Cudahy!!  Looking forward to it.” 

This is a great opportunity that I hope the city of Cudahy embraces and supports so that other investors will see the same potential make return Cudahy to where it needs to be.