🍸 Ahan owners opening new Willy Street bar

⚖️ The Clock Is Ticking For Wisconsin Supreme Court

• The end of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s current session is looming on June 30, which means the court has to deliver rulings on arguments they’ve heard during the session. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring, and Judge Susan Crawford will take her seat on the court in the next session.
• At stake are issues such as whether an 1849 law counts as an abortion ban in Wisconsin, and whether the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources can crack down on “forever chemical” polluters.
• 🎧 On the City Cast Madison podcast today, Cap Times state government reporter Erin McGroarty talks to host Bianca Martin about this transition time, and what decisions we can expect. [Cap Times, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🍸 Ahan Owners Opening New Bar Across Willy Street

• The owners of Ahan, the popular Southeast Asian restaurant on Williamson Street, plan to open a bar across the street this fall.
• Ba Lao will open in the former location of Taco Local at 811 Williamson St. The vision is for Ba Lao to be a sandwich and boba tea shop during the day and a bar at night where diners waiting for a table at Ahan can hang out. [Cap Times]

📺 Owners Looking to Sell Off WKOW TV Station

• Allen Media Group, which owns 28 broadcast TV stations nationwide including WKOW in Madison, is looking to sell them all. Chairman and CEO Byron Allen said the company has already received offers for most of the stations.
• The company received some backlash in January after announcing it would outsource its local weather forecasts to The Weather Channel, which it also owns. Allen Media Group backed off that decision, but the controversy underscores the fragile state of local news in an age of media consolidation. [CNBC, WKOW, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

There’s lots going on at the Black Business Hub, and seemingly more coming every day. Grab a latte, get your nails done, do your banking, and support the growing number of minority-owned businesses that call the Hub home.

We recently took a look at the building to see what’s there and find out what’s coming next.

What is the Black Business Hub?

The Black Business Hub at 2352 Park St. is a $25.5 million, four-story, 81,000-square foot building designed to be an incubator and an accelerator for minority-owned businesses. In addition to being a physical space that can accommodate over 100 businesses, it’s home to the organizations and support networks that can help those businesses thrive.

It’s run by the Urban League of Greater Madison, and while it officially opened its doors last August, new businesses are steadily moving into the building. Last month, a new four-story “Colorful Characters” mural designed by artist Michael Ford, and featuring several South Madison leaders such as Lori Mann Carey and Wayne Strong, was unveiled on the parking structure next door to the Hub.

Get Something To Eat or Drink

While the upper floors are devoted to offices, retail businesses, and co-working spaces, the main floor is set aside for food entrepreneurs. The new Rasta Barista Coffee opened in May, specializing in Blue Mountain Coffee from the mountains of Jamaica.

The coffee shop also sells jerk chicken tenders and fries as well as chocolate truffles. A perfect drink on a hot summer day is sorrel, a tart and sweet ruby-red iced drink made with infused dried hibiscus petals.

On Friday through Sundays, House of Flavas will open its doors in the Hub’s shared commercial kitchen to serve food for lunch and dinner, focusing on its soul food specialties on Saturdays and Sundays. And the elegant space for Tailer Nicole Wine and Cupcakes looks ready for its grand opening at the end of June.

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

This illustration is found on the wall of Madison Sourdough!

🎉 Congratulations to Richanda T., Kate L., and Kendell G. for being the first three to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Do you know where these masks are located? A few clues:

• They are located on Madison’s east side
• They are hanging in the lobby of a historic theater
• If the talk show host who played Gertie in “E.T.” ever stopped by, she’d feel right at home!