Planning a business lunch or hosting an important event in downtown Milwaukee? 600 EAST Café offers reliable, high-quality Milwaukee downtown catering with options designed to satisfy groups of any size. Our handcrafted selections include locally sourced breakfasts, gourmet box lunches, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, wraps, and shareable platters, plus our famous coffee and artisan bakery. Whether you’re hosting a casual team gathering or an important corporate event, we’ll deliver fresh, flavorful food right to your office or meeting space. With flexible menus and seamless service, 600 EAST Café is your go-to partner for catering in downtown Milwaukee.
CALL: 414.224.6594
EMAIL: [email protected]
Delivery available near downtown for an additional charge.
“I always use this caterer as my first choice for meetings as they are always on time, the food is excellent, and the staff is great.”
You’ll find as much history in the building’s construction as you will in its past tenants. Built of functional Douglas fir timber, Chicago pink brick and hand-forged steel beams, the building was once home to the Milwaukee Gas Light Company, Spencerian Business College and even the Great Circus Parade.
1912
The 600 EAST building was designed by renowned local architects Schnetzky & Sons for the Milwaukee Gas Light Company and built in 1912.
1929
By 1929, the Milwaukee Gas Light Company had outgrown the space and built a much larger building next door at 626 East Wisconsin Avenue, now known as the Gas Light Building.
1931
In 1931, the upper two stories of the building became the home of the Spencerian Business College, one of the first business schools in the nation.
1951
By 1951, the Spencerian Business College had moved out and was replaced by several tenants, including the Ambition Shoe Repair Shop and Lyon Drug Company.
1988
Many small businesses would call the building home between 1951 and 2006, including Ben Barkin, founder of the Great Circus Parade, in 1988. Barkin’s public relations firm occupied parts of the building, while the lower level housed the Great Circus Parade’s Big Toppe Shoppe.
2006
In 2006, Dan Nelson purchased the building and immediately began the renovation process. Preserving the building’s historic architecture was crucial, and an emphasis was placed on restoring the brick walls and wooden rafters. In May 2014, the 600 EAST Café & Business Center opened to the public.
600 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202