McKinley Beach, Milwaukee
Blue Hut
A community-driven beach cafe concept for the lakefront
N-Squared + The Bartolotta Restaurants + MKE County Parks
What We’re Proposing
We’re proposing a beach cafe concept, built on a trusted partnership that activates this underutilized space year-round. N-Squared takes on full ownership of everything: staffing, operations, marketing, programming, and day-to-day hustle. Bartolotta and the County don’t lift a finger — no oversight, no operational burden, no risk. Our partners simply benefit from the result: at minimum, a meaningful cost reduction; at best, a new revenue stream from a space that was previously generating nothing.
For discussion purposes only. All terms and structures are preliminary and subject to negotiation.
Why We’re Proposing
This isn’t just a business pitch. It’s personal.
It Runs in the Family
Nic's grandfather spent years casting lines off McKinley Pier. Now Nic and Natasha have a 6-month-old son, Leo — and they want him growing up with those same deep Milwaukee roots. This proposal isn't just a business play. It's about building something worth passing down.
A City Ready for This
Milwaukee is growing — and a new generation is hungry for community-first experiences that feel real, not manufactured. The lakefront is the city's front porch. The Blue Hut is a chance to build something people actually come back for, summer after summer.
We Already Call It Home
McKinley Marina is where Nic and Natasha watch the sunrise. They know this stretch of lakefront — not as investors studying a market, but as people who already love being here. That's not a pitch line. That's just the truth.
Menu Concept
Built around accessibility, margin, and community.
Seasonal Quick Eats
Fresh, approachable food that fits the lakefront setting.
High-Margin Snacks
Popcorn, protein cookies, beverages — fast-moving staples.
Local Partnerships
Collabs with Milwaukee-area producers and brands.
Bartolotta Items
if desiredSignature offerings — beach-appropriate, premium quality.
Click the card behind to switch menus
Summer Menu
Light, energizing, made for the lakefront
Menu items for discussion purposes only. Final offerings subject to licensing, vendor agreements, and seasonal demand.
Built for the Community
McKinley Beach already draws the crowd. The Blue Hut becomes the heartbeat — a family-friendly hub where Milwaukeeans gather, create memories, and come back all summer long.
✦ The following are brainstorm ideas — not commitments. We’re open to shaping this together.
Public Disco
Vancouver-inspired, alcohol-free, family-friendly community events. Live music in the park, Saturdays 2–5 PM. All ages welcome.
Food Truck Partnerships
Rotating food truck lineup in the beach lot on weekends — curated local vendors that complement the Blue Hut experience.
Roller Skating Rentals
Inline skate rentals along the lakefront path. A throwback activity the whole family can enjoy.
Sunrise Live Stream
Fixed camera streaming sunrise to social channels daily — free community content that keeps McKinley Beach top of mind year-round.
Pop-up Collabs
Collectivo, Blooming Lotus, Bartolotta, and other MKE staples rotating through — bringing new audiences to the beach.
Blue Hut Merch
Shirts, stickers, and totes — Blue Hut branded goods that let beachgoers take a piece of the vibe home. A community badge of honor.
Sunrise Yoga
Start your morning on the sand. Guided sunrise sessions, open to all levels — grounding the community before the day begins.
Coffee + Fire Sessions
Morning coffee by the fire pit. A low-key gathering spot before the beach wakes up — regulars, dog walkers, early risers welcome.
Run Club Partnerships
Weekly lakefront run club meetups starting and ending at Blue Hut. Cold drinks and community waiting at the finish line.
Farmers Market
Weekend pop-up farmers market in the beach lot. Local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors — connecting the neighborhood to the lakefront.
Public Disco
Vancouver-inspired, alcohol-free, family-friendly community events. Live music in the park, Saturdays 2–5 PM. All ages welcome.
Food Truck Partnerships
Rotating food truck lineup in the beach lot on weekends — curated local vendors that complement the Blue Hut experience.
Roller Skating Rentals
Inline skate rentals along the lakefront path. A throwback activity the whole family can enjoy.
Sunrise Live Stream
Fixed camera streaming sunrise to social channels daily — free community content that keeps McKinley Beach top of mind year-round.
Pop-up Collabs
Collectivo, Blooming Lotus, Bartolotta, and other MKE staples rotating through — bringing new audiences to the beach.
Blue Hut Merch
Shirts, stickers, and totes — Blue Hut branded goods that let beachgoers take a piece of the vibe home. A community badge of honor.
Sunrise Yoga
Start your morning on the sand. Guided sunrise sessions, open to all levels — grounding the community before the day begins.
Coffee + Fire Sessions
Morning coffee by the fire pit. A low-key gathering spot before the beach wakes up — regulars, dog walkers, early risers welcome.
Run Club Partnerships
Weekly lakefront run club meetups starting and ending at Blue Hut. Cold drinks and community waiting at the finish line.
Farmers Market
Weekend pop-up farmers market in the beach lot. Local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors — connecting the neighborhood to the lakefront.
Public Disco
Vancouver-inspired, alcohol-free, family-friendly community events. Live music in the park, Saturdays 2–5 PM. All ages welcome.
Food Truck Partnerships
Rotating food truck lineup in the beach lot on weekends — curated local vendors that complement the Blue Hut experience.
Roller Skating Rentals
Inline skate rentals along the lakefront path. A throwback activity the whole family can enjoy.
Sunrise Live Stream
Fixed camera streaming sunrise to social channels daily — free community content that keeps McKinley Beach top of mind year-round.
Pop-up Collabs
Collectivo, Blooming Lotus, Bartolotta, and other MKE staples rotating through — bringing new audiences to the beach.
Blue Hut Merch
Shirts, stickers, and totes — Blue Hut branded goods that let beachgoers take a piece of the vibe home. A community badge of honor.
Sunrise Yoga
Start your morning on the sand. Guided sunrise sessions, open to all levels — grounding the community before the day begins.
Coffee + Fire Sessions
Morning coffee by the fire pit. A low-key gathering spot before the beach wakes up — regulars, dog walkers, early risers welcome.
Run Club Partnerships
Weekly lakefront run club meetups starting and ending at Blue Hut. Cold drinks and community waiting at the finish line.
Farmers Market
Weekend pop-up farmers market in the beach lot. Local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors — connecting the neighborhood to the lakefront.
Marketing & Promotion
Marketing is our bread and butter — this is what we do. We handle the full promotional lift so our partners don’t have to.
N-Squared handles
- Web development and ongoing site management
- Social content creation and channel management
- Primary event and pop-up promotion
- Digital design and creative assets
- Community outreach and local partnerships
- Email marketing and customer engagement
- Day to day operations
Bartolotta + Parks contribute
- Existing audience and brand equity
- Established food and beverage offerings
Bartolotta involvement is completely optional — any contribution is a bonus, not a requirement.
The Opportunity
McKinley and Bradford Beach corridor — foot traffic data and revenue modeling
Air & Water Show
1.2M+
over 2 days
Bradford Beach Peak
5-8K/day
peak season
McKinley Beach (est.)
500-2K/day
re-opened 2024
Year-Round Path
Daily
cyclists, runners, walkers
Model Controls
Annual Gross
$901K
Annual Net
$451K
Blended Margin
64.7%
Monthly Revenue
✦ Quarterly Pop-Up Events
4× per year — additional foot traffic beyond daily baseline. Estimated $10/person avg spend (conservative). Not counted in daily conversion model above.
Annual Event Revenue
+$20K
For discussion purposes only. All projections are estimates based on publicly available data and assumptions.
The Deal Structure
A hands-off, trusted partnership. N-Squared handles everything — Bartolotta and the County benefit from a renovated asset and a new income stream, with zero operational lift.
For discussion purposes only.
Time & Materials
N-Squared covers all time, materials, and labor to renovate the cafe — at no cost to existing partners.
Storage Replacement
Any storage displaced by renovation is replaced in-kind. A seamless transition with zero disruption to existing operations.
Lease Reduction
Milwaukee County Parks reduces Bartolotta's existing lease proportional to the renovation value delivered — a direct, ongoing cost reduction with no strings attached.
Revenue Share
Bartolotta earns a passive revenue share from Blue Hut sales. Zero operational involvement required — just meaningful upside from a space that was previously idle.
Sublease
Alternatively, N-Squared subleases the Blue Hut directly from Bartolotta based on proportional square footage. Predictable income, no day-to-day responsibilities.
Next Steps
We’re ready when you are. Here’s how we move from conversation to open doors.
Site Visit
A quick walkthrough of the Blue Hut to assess existing infrastructure — storage, power, water, and utility access. Helps N-Squared scope the renovation accurately.
Renovation Spec
N-Squared delivers a detailed renovation plan: scope, materials, timeline, and cost. This also refines the deal terms with real numbers attached.
Lease Term Options
Walk through the sublease structure or revenue share arrangement and land on a framework that works for all parties. No pressure — just alignment.
Loop in MKE County Parks
Bring Milwaukee County Parks into the conversation to align on permits, lease structure, and county-side approvals. We handle the legwork — partners just need to make the intro.
None of these steps require a commitment — just a willingness to explore.
About N-Squared
Nic & Natasha
Nic is a local business owner running a digital marketing agency in the Third Ward (Margle Media, est. 2017) with a background in web development, digital design, event planning, and hospitality. Natasha is a lawyer and insurance advisor from Canada with experience running her own firm, currently getting licensed in the States, with deep roots in customer service, hospitality, and event planning. Together, they share a passion for food, community, and creating vibrant gathering spaces — drawing inspiration from travels around the world.
Let’s BuildSomething Great
McKinley Beach deserves a destination, not just a snack stand. This is the start of a conversation — and we think it’s worth having.
Confidential — For Discussion Purposes Only | N-Squared | March 2026