A new food truck park and bar might open as early as May in Walker's Point. Zocalo Food Park and Tavern would operate at 636 S. 6th St., which is currently a 7,000-square-foot vacant lot and building located one block west of where the 2018 World Cup pop-up bar Nomad Nacional operated last summer (also the old La Fuente restaurant).
Jesus Gonzalez, owner and operator of the iconic silver Mazorca taco trailer is behind the new food truck park concept. He's partnering with Sean Phelan, president of Milwaukee-based Phelan Development LLC. The two of them have put in an application to purchase the property currently owned by Mike Eitel, of Caravan Hospitality Group, which operated Nomad Nacional.
Initially, Eitel bought the land for plans for Nomad to have a soccer-related entertainment development occupy a large amount of space on the block, but has since put that project on hold. Eitel currently has a lot on his plate, developing other new businesses such as SportsClub sports bar downtown and Tavern at Turner.
Gonzalez says the hope for Zocalo, which is the word for a public square in Mexico, is to create a similar gathering place by bringing in food trucks, a beverage program and even have room for parking, outdoor seating and games such as bocce ball and soccer.
Gonzalez and Phelan hope to have the first food truck park in Milwaukee up and running along with the bar by May.