Au Bon Pain Plans First WI Location in Waukesha

Au Bon Pain, a café that features soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee, bakery items and bread, is planned for the retail space in the new residence hall that is being constructed for Carroll University students.

The Waukesha location of Au Bon Pain will be the first in Wisconsin. Au Bon Pain currently has locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia,  Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Ron Lostetter, vice president of finance for Carroll University, said in an e-mail that Au Bon Pain is a good fit for Carroll University because of the “healthy food choices, meets students needs for hours, variety and flexibility. Also, they are very recognizable to the public.”

While the retail space is in the first floor of the new residence hall, it is not strictly for the students. The mixed-use building is being leased from by Carroll University for the student housing but the businesses on the first floor will be open for the public.

The Waukesha Common Council approved last year entering into a tax incremental financing agreement with the property owner and developer, Berg Management, to provide $1.3 million toward the construction of the building. The funding will be repaid to the city through the increased property taxes generated by the increased value of the building.

The project is adding 42 part-time and 42 full-time jobs, according to city documents, and is guaranteed to add $8.9 million in value to the property. The property owners paid $9,922 in taxes to the city each year, which will increase to $93,528 following the redevelopment of the property, city documents state.

Lostetter said in the e-mail that construction on the new residence hall should be completed in mid-July with the restaurant’s construction being completed about two weeks later.

A soft opening for the second phase of the residence hall complex on South Grand Avenue – which is named Frontier Hall – will be held in mid-August, Lostetter said.

Berg Management General Manager Catherine Huelsman said the company is still seeking tenants for the retail space. The businesses have to be approved by Carroll University, which is the main leaseholder.

“They do have veto power over the retail,” Huelsman said. “As long as it doesn’t violate the few restrictions they put on, there probably shouldn’t be any problems.”

The restrictions prohibit selling items such as alcohol, cigarettes and pornography, Huelsman said.

Berg Management is working to attract retail businesses that will sign a three- to five-year lease in the five spaces that are available. The store space varies between 1,066 square feet and 2,497 square feet. Rent is approximately $22 per square foot, according to a Berg Management flier.

Modifications can still be done to the suites as businesses locate into Frontier Hall, which will have 231 beds.

“It just depends on how creative people want to be,” Huelsman said.

• To contact Huelsman about the retail property, go to Berg Management, 235 W. Broadway, Suite 10, Waukesha, or call 262-521-9935, ext. 27.