A remarkable chance for redevelopment has surfaced in Milwaukee’s Lower East Side. The City of Milwaukee is putting up for sale a mixed-use building that it obtained through property tax foreclosure. Located at 1115-1117 E. Brady St., this three-story structure is listed for $280,000, and bids can be submitted via a request-for-proposals process.
For many years, from 2000 until its closure in 2016, the building was prominently known for housing Dragonfly Vintage Goods and Gifts on the first floor. This beloved store had been a staple for a quarter of a century across two states before shutting its doors.
Following the departure of Dragonfly, owner John A. Thurman experienced a revolving door of tenants, including Usman La’Aro, a clothing store, and Purple Reign, which specialized in CBD products. Unfortunately, Thurman lost ownership of the building due to property tax foreclosure in 2021. The most recent tenant, BlackInk Milwaukee, a tattoo parlor, also ceased operations in 2024. It’s worth noting that Thurman had owned this property since 1983.
The building stands out not only for its history but also for the unique artwork adorning its roof—a striking representation of a mythical winged creature. This design was skillfully brought down to street level in 1999 by artist Pamela Scesniak, who carved an homage into her sidewalk art piece titled "Green Flow."
In addition to the commercial space, the upper floors feature two apartments that have been vacant for a considerable period, as reported by Michael Horne in 2016. The brick structure, encompassing 4,018 square feet, was originally built in 1888 for Ignatz Trzebiatowski, whose contributions to the area also include the nearby building at 1692 N. Humboldt Ave., now occupied by Peter Sciortino’s Bakery.
The building is recognized as part of the Brady Street Historic District, a designation that ensures any future renovations to the exterior must be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. In fact, a historic designation application from 1990 highlights the property as an exemplary specimen of the district’s fine commercial architecture from the 1880s, showcasing an eclectic mix of styles.
The Department of City Development has set specific conditions for any potential buyer, requiring the property to remain fully taxable with a functional first-floor storefront. Potential uses for the space could include retail shops, a deli, grocery store, art collective, or even a yoga studio, although a tavern—previously a function of the building—is prohibited among various other restricted options.
Bids for this historic opportunity must be submitted by March 23. Interestingly, the last instance of the city selling a property on Brady Street occurred in 2015, when Russ Drewry acquired a two-story building at 827-829 E. Brady St. This building had previously belonged to Frank Pecoraro, widely recognized in later years as 'the Pepperoni Cannoli guy,' who lost the property due to unpaid taxes. Drewy, an architect, undertook renovations and now leases the first floor to a business called Chocolate Sommelier.
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