Latest news with #BlackSwanMKE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New group takes over former Black Swan wedding venue, offering to honor old bookings
Milwaukee-based hospitality group 41Fork is taking over a venue once operated by wedding company Black Swan MKE, which shuttered abruptly earlier this year. Black Swan was ordered to vacate from its Third Ward wedding venue known as Plant No. 4 in December 2024, but customers only found out in March — leaving dozens of couples scrambling to save their wedding plans. On May 23, 41Fork announced on its Facebook page that it signed a lease for the venue and is offering a 30-day window for former clients to reclaim their reservations. Online court records show that the owners of the Plant No. 4 property sued to evict Black Swan MKE in November and that the eviction was granted in December. In April, the property owners filed a separate lawsuit against Black Swan seeking more than $238,000 in unpaid rent, maintenance costs, and storage fees, alleging the venue failed to meet its obligations under the lease, according to court records. Although Black Swan's owner acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit in late April, no formal response had been filed by the May 19 deadline, according to court records. Black Swan is also being sued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for more than $7,000 in unpaid sales tax, court records show. The company was run by father and son duo Peter and Stephen Sheperd, who have not responded to requests for comment. 41Fork is a collective of hospitality brands offering catering services, mobile bars and event venues. The group also operates at the following Milwaukee locations: Noble Catering and Events, a catering company located at 400 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 102 Vault, a cocktail lounge located at 111 E. Kilbourn Ave., Suite 210 River Center Market, a food hall located at 111 E Kilbourn Ave., Suite 110 Until June 20, the company is inviting former Plant No. 4 clients who had previously booked events to reinstate their reservations. 41Fork said it will honor any payments those customers made to Black Swan, with the understanding that clients will be required to use NEAT, 41Fork's in-house bar service. Owner Kaelyn Cervero said 41Fork will not book new clients until June 23 to honor the former contracts and avoid double bookings. Affected clients can contact 41Fork by email at events@ or through the contact form on its website. Multiple consumers who filed complaints with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have received refunds from Black Swan, according to department spokesperson Caleb Kulich. One of them was Brooke Moder, who paid a $6,025 deposit in July in hopes of having her wedding hosted by Black Swan. Moder filed a complaint with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection on March 21. The agency said on April 4 that Black Swan had agreed to issue a refund. Moder received a check for the full amount three days later. Moder noted the check appeared to come from the wife of Black Swan's owner, which she called "a bit odd." Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's 41Fork takes over former Black Swan wedding venue
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee wedding venue owners offered couples unavailable space
The Brief A Milwaukee wedding venue was evicted from a Historic Third Ward building. FOX6 News learned the business' owners also promised couples a different venue that wasn't theirs to offer. The company, Black Swan MKE, has not answered any of FOX6's questions. MILWAUKEE - The twists and turns continue after a Milwaukee wedding venue was evicted from a Historic Third Ward building. Now, FOX6 News has learned the business' owners promised another venue to couples that wasn't theirs to offer. What they're saying When Erich Weidenbener and his fiancée booked their venue last April, they were sold on the promise of a perfect day. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "We were impressed. We were like, 'This is a good guy.' I'd been to weddings at his venues before," he said. "Our venue that is supposedly under construction – why aren't they giving us some updates? So we started emailing him every week, started leaving messages." Weidenbener said Black Swan MKE told them a "new venue" called Eagles Nest was under construction in Walker's Point but would be open for their wedding day. The couple booked it and paid nearly $5,000. Dig deeper After no response, Weidenbener realized something was wrong. "Got in contact with the building's ownership, and they said, 'Peter's never owned or leased space in this building at all,'" he said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News A spokesperson for the Eagleknit building, where Eagles Nest was supposed to be located, told FOX6 News it never entered a lease agreement with Black Swan MKE. "It's just upsetting. I mean, we feel kind of betrayed and lied to. We feel taken advantage of," said Weidenbener. "In a time that's supposed to be really happy and a cause for celebration – to inflict this on young couples." What's next Weidenbener and his fiancée are currently looking at other venues that still have their same wedding date available. They also said they are considering legal action. "There are people with weddings before ours who might be unaware of what's going on," he said. "It's wild, it's fraudulent, and it's disappointing." The backstory Weidenbener and his fiancée are not alone. Earlier this week, brides and grooms told FOX6 News they were scrambling to find a new venue after learning Plant No. 4 – a venue operated by Black Swan MKE – was evicted from its Historic Third Ward space. FOX6 reached out to Black Swan MKE several times this week. The company has not answered any questions. The Source Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews and prior coverage.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee wedding, event venue shut down; groups step up to help
The Brief Black Swan MKE, a wedding and event venue in Milwaukee, has suddenly shut down. At least a dozen venues have offered up their spaces for couples impacted by the sudden closure. The company said in a statement, "It can't comment at this time." MILWAUKEE - More brides and grooms are scrambling after a Milwaukee wedding venue suddenly shut down. What we know At least a dozen venues have offered up their spaces for couples impacted by the sudden closure of Black Swan MKE. Court documents show the owners of Plant No. 4, operated by Black Swan MKE, were evicted in November 2024. FOX6 News has reached out to Black Swan MKE several times over the last two days. The company said in a statement, "It can't comment at this time" – and asked FOX6 news to hold off until next week. Local perspective It took more than two years to plan, but her daughter's big day was almost here. But now, Tess said her daughter only has three weeks to find a new wedding venue. "It's just mind-boggling to me that a company can be this ruthless," Tess said. "It was so emotional for her. We are three weeks away from her wedding. They didn't even notify her that there were any issues. Nothing. They just wanted the money." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Tess said the couple booked their wedding for April 12 at Plant No. 4. She only found out the venue had closed when she saw the story on FOX6 News. "It's just been gut-wrenching to be honest," Tess said. "To request money in January for a final payment, that, in itself, is so unethical. So unethical." Brooke Moder and her fiance, Calvin Miller, booked with a different Black Swan MKE venue, Eagle's Crest. What they're saying "Having to find a new venue, we are going to have to put another deposit down and it's something we weren't prepared for financially," the couple said. "Stomach dropped, devastated, shocked. It's heartbreaking too because we've been working so hard on this day for the past year." Big picture view Some venues are trying to save the day, with more than a dozen hospitality groups are now stepping in, offering to help couples avoid a big disaster before their big day. "Everybody was talking, saying what can I do to help?" Saz's Hospitality Group Director of Business Development Jaime Peterson said. "Get these people back into a happy place and excited about planning their wedding again." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Saz's Hospitality Group isn't the only group or venue to help save the day. The complete list includes: Women's Club Wisconsin Shank Hall The Barley Room Saz's Hospitality Group - South Second, Jan Serr Studio, The George and Madcap Lounge, The Marcus Performing Arts Center, Western Lakes Golf Club Pabst Theater Group - Turner Hall, Vivarium, The Fitzgerald Pilot Project Brewing The Gage River Valley Historic Center St. James 1868 The Source The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
They picked Black Swan MKE for their wedding venue. The company didn't tell them it was being evicted.
Milwaukee-area couples who have weddings scheduled as soon as next month are scrambling after the sudden shutdown of a local wedding company. Wedding planner Veronica Brend contacted Public Investigator after hearing rumors that Black Swan MKE had been evicted from its Third Ward wedding venue building, without informing customers. Brend feared the fallout could be "catastrophic," she said. Online court records confirm that the owners of the historic Third Ward property sued to evict Black Swan MKE in November and that the eviction was granted in December. Wedding planners told Public Investigator that their clients expected to hold their weddings there as soon as April. Some couples were told they had been booked at a new venue that was still under construction, leaving them little time to pivot. Court cases also show the company was facing problems paying its taxes as far back as 2019. Milwaukee wedding planner Heather Farr said two of her clients expected to have their weddings hosted by Black Swan. After she heard the eviction rumors, Farr said she looked up court records to confirm them and notified her clients on Monday. Farr said her clients are now panicking, and Black Swan's apparent closure is also blindsiding vendors who were counting on the venue for business. "(Black Swan) had plenty of time to do the right thing," said Farr. Black Swan MKE is run by father and son duo Peter and Stephen Sheperd. They could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. According to the Black Swan MKE website, the company began in 2006 in a "northern suburb of Milwaukee." In 2016, the company opened a riverfront location in downtown Milwaukee. It opened two more venues — Plant N° 4 and Bianco Room — in 2019. Eviction records show that Black Swan owes the owners of the Plant No. 4 building over $170,000. However, as of March 19, the Historic Third Ward venue remains on the company's website. Farr said one of her clients who planned to hold their wedding in June was told by Black Swan that they were working on opening a new Milwaukee venue called Eagle's Crest. She said she was initially told that the Eagle's Crest venue was under construction and expected to open in the spring but later heard about delays. This week, Farr said she heard that Black Swan never had permission to book weddings there. "It just keeps kind of unraveling every day," Farr said. Brend, too, said a client was told they had booked the new Eagle's Crest location. Now, her client is working on getting the money they paid for their deposit back. "Their wedding's next year, so they have time to course correct," Brend said. Court filings also show that, as of February, Black Swan is being sued by a couple who claim the company accepted their deposit and then became unreachable. Records show the couple was unable to directly serve Peter and Stephen Sheperd, forcing them to issue a publication summons, or public legal notice, in an attempt to reach them. Through their attorney, the couple declined an interview with Public Investigator. Black Swan is also being sued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for more than $7,000 in unpaid sales tax, court records show. The company was subject to multiple tax warrants from the Department of Revenue in previous years. In 2019 and 2020, the company owed over $60,000 in tax, which was paid back. Brend said her wedding planning business, Veronica Rose Planning, will help affected couples find a new venue at no cost. "I reached out because I care about the clients, and I want the clients to know, if they lose their venue, that there are resources out there that can help them," Brend said. Ana Cook, marketing director for Saz's Hospitality Group, said the company is assisting at least six couples in securing a new venue at one of its locations. Cook said many Milwaukee vendors are banding together to help couples affected by Black Swan's eviction. "The most positive thing that has come out of this is just showcasing how amazing Milwaukee hospitality is," said Cook. Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to publicinvestigator@ or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at This story has been updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Black Swan MKE 'Plant No 4' wedding venue appears to close suddenly
