Five new businesses coming to Milwaukee's northwest side

NOW: Five new businesses coming to Milwaukee’s northwest side

After dozens of businesses, including the old Northridge mall left the northwest side of Milwaukee..

Plans are now underway to bring that area back to life.

Vacant buildings have turned into eyesores across Milwaukee's northwest side.

A problem, alderwoman Chantia Lewis says has plagued her district for more than a decade.

"One of the reasons why I ran for office is because i started noticing stores and the big boxes were closing and there was nothing really happening. I got fed up and wanted to do that. This has been my mission that there's movement in the ninth district," Lewis says. 

She unveiled a plan to turn the northwest side around.

Five new businesses have decided to call the ninth district home next year, including Dunkin' Donuts and Captain D's seafood restaurant.

Without saying much, Lewis also mentioned big plans for the Boston Store section of the old Northridge mall, that Penzy's Spices just sold to the city.

"Now that we are the proud owners of that space, we can definitely push that Northridge circle forward," says Lewis. 

Business owner Marcia Taylor plans to open her popcorn business in the ninth district next year. 

Despite the area's challenges, she's ready to be part of the rebuild.

"There's a void in the market and there's a nice density of population around here, we were like hey, lets see what we can do here," says Marcia Taylor, owner of Lush Gourmet Popcorn. 

"The excitement, you can feel it. You can feel the hope and you can feel the energy. I am just truly blessed to be apart of that," says Lewis. 

A committee was also created to help bring in more businesses. They plan to get to work next month.




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