A historic industrial building just west of Marquette University is to host an events venue under a redevelopment proposal from a Milwaukee restaurant operator.

The eastern first-floor portion of the two-story, 26,000-square-foot building, at 2202-2210 W. Clybourn St., would host the venue, named The Clybourn, according to plans filed with the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals.

The operator would be Bella M & C LLC, led by Marta Bianchini, according to the proposal.

Bianchini is co-owner of Cubanitas restaurant, a Cuban restaurant with locations at 728 N. Milwaukee St. and Oak Creek's Drexel Town Square mixed-use development, as well as other businesses.

Those include The Mitch, an events venue that Bianchini and business partner Claiborne Marshall opened in 2021 at 1104 W. Historic Mitchell St.

Marshall also is a partner on The Clybourn, Bianchini said.

The Clybourn would host weddings, memorial services and other events, including those tied to Marquette, such as graduation parties, Bianchini told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It has a proposed capacity of 130 people.

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"I think it would do really well," she said.

The nearby Miss Katie's Diner, 1900 W. Clybourn St., would be the venue's caterer.

The proposed venue needs a special-use permit from the zoning board, which could review that request at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Bianchini and Marshall hope to begin showing the space in September and to start hosting events in December.

The Clybourn would be the latest in a series of historic Milwaukee-area buildings that have been converted into events venues since 2020.

Along with The Mitch, they include:

• St. James 1868, 833 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• River Valley Historic Venue, 422 N.15th St.

• The George and Madcap Lounge, 429 W. National Ave.

• The Gage, 1139 S. 70th St., West Allis.

• Dresden Castle on Underwood, 3775 E. Underwood Ave., Cudahy.

Also, the Urban Ecology Center wants to convert its warehouse, at 1500 E. Park Place, into Riverland Event Hall. Those plans are pending before the zoning board.

The art deco-style Clybourn Street building was constructed in 1920, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The building is owned by Perital LLC, led by Gianfranco Tassara, according to city assessment records. Its other tenants are Tassara's Inspired Artisans art studio and MKE Boxing Club.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Historic Milwaukee building to host events venue from Cubanitas owner