“I don’t think a ranking does that any justice”, responded Fecker when asked for his thoughts. He went on to express the importance of this fact in relation to tourism.
“One of the things I want to address also is where Milwaukee’s going, when it comes to the overall growth of visiting a city, being tourist-friendly, and everything else. That is important for people to know. You really need to come here, and feel the love that we have for visitors, and tourism. Not just because it’s a money-making source of income, it’s just because that’s the way Milwaukeeans are, you know? And they’re real, in many ways. And that’s why I appreciate it.”
Feker also shed some perspective on how truly lucky Milwaukeeans are to have such a friendly population, comparing his time in the Midwest to his time out in Southern California.
“Living in Los Angeles for so many years, having three successful restaurants in L.A…when people ask me, 'Why did you move to Milwaukee?,' the first answer that I have is ‘Have you ever lived is Los Angeles?' So, you will see the difference. It’s a very pure city, it’s a simple city, it’s easy to live, it’s a wonderful area to bring up children, and have a family. At the same time, anything I want that I have access to in Los Angeles, I have it right here…So, it’s a wonderful, wonderful city, as far as I’m concerned.”
This wonderful environment that surrounds us does not only serve us socially, but also economically. As well as being known for our friendly demeanors, Milwaukeeans are also incredibly supportive of local businesses, and smaller start-ups, making success for those with a strong work ethic a more attainable feat.
When asked about how Milwaukee’s energy has helped with his success, Feker responded:
“After opening my first restaurant here in Milwaukee, I went back to Wauwatosa, because I thought West was truly hungry for great food, great service, and a great value on a regular basis. Being there for about seven years, I missed the hip and happening energy on Milwaukee itself, here by the lake. Because right now, the lake is the hip part of Milwaukee, in the way that there’s a lot of young energy, there are a lot of food-lovers, there are a lot of people that are looking for great service for a great value, which falls right into my niche.”
Feker also explained how important our location is. “…at the same time, we have a beautiful lake, that, a lot of times, we take for granted, because we keep seeing it every day. But it’s a beautiful, beautiful lake that is not only a source of fresh water, but is a source of life, in every way…But remember, Milwaukee is a huge city. Maybe small, but it’s huge in many ways. Because first of all, we have the peace and serenity that a lot of times you don’t have in a larger cosmopolitan city. Milwaukee gives that to us. But at the same time, anything we want is just as hip and as great as any city such as New York.”
Photo Source: OnMilwaukee
Photo Source: Urban Spoon
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