As the Hub at Madison nears completion in time for the upcoming fall semester, retail spaces on the development’s ground floor are slowly filling up.
As The Cap Times reported, five restaurants have signed leases in the building, including Glaze Teriyaki, Colectivo Coffee, Naf Naf Grill, Goodness and Compa, which is a product of Goodness.
Several other yet currently unknown businesses have also signed leases beneath the 12 story building and three retail spaces remain, John Bergh, president of White Box Commercial Property Group, said.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, who has reviewed several of the franchises opening at the location, said he would have rather seen more local businesses come to the Hub. However, on the whole he said it would “add to the diversity of establishments in the greater State Street corridor.”
Regarding the long-term effects of large corporate developments such as The Hub on State Street, Resnick said he believes in maintaining a historic State Street. He said the local fabric of the community should not be forgotten.
Resnick also said the new development will provide a good opportunity to reevaluate the types of companies the city would like to see in the area.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, noted that many of the restaurants are new to Wisconsin.
Verveer said he was happy that the developer, Core Campus, decided against combining the retail space and staying away from bars that do not serve food.
Echoing Resnick’s comments, Verveer said “it’s hard to say goodbye to the displaced businesses,” referring to Husnus and Buraka, two of the displaced restaurants that have been unable to find a new location.
Verveer said it is unlikely that State Street will see further large scale developments, citing a lack of large lots and a number of historic buildings.
“The Hub is unique because their lot formerly contained only a parking lot and the University Inn building,” Verveer said. “This required less demolition.”
City zoning laws have also posed problems for the construction of larger building complexes. The current law limits buildings to four stories, which is why the Hub’s main towers are set back from State Street.
The Hub is expected to open in summer 2015.
