We recently connected with Joe Katz and have shared our conversation below.

Joe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

We really enjoy giving away free food. We’ve found over the years that when you hand someone a free sausage, the friendship is usually off to a great start.

Most recently we are offering free hot dogs every day, all day. No questions asked.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been in the bar business for 30 years. My first job was as a bar back / stock person at a fun bar called Vittucci’s on Milwaukee’s eastside and have been working in the service industry ever since. Throughout My first 10 years in service, I helped open a few bars and restaurants around the Milwaukee area. I was fortunate to be working with a group of brilliant and enthusiastic individuals. These individuals showed me the way. to take chances and believe in your vision. When I turned 30, my sister, brother-in-law and I bought the building that is now the Highbury Pub. The Highbury Pub, named after the now defunct stadium which closed in 2006, is a full time soccer pub. We offer all things soccer to as many supporters as possible. If your match is on, we will be happy to televise it.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media changed the way bars and restaurants connect with the customers. Today we are presented with so many options and so much information, it seems that the customers really enjoy and respect the time we take to have one on one, personal interactions through social media. We try and respond immediately with respect and honesty. We feel that consistency online helps. When posting to social media have some worthy information within the post every time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During Covid 2020-21 we transitioned into a restaurant that had to go and delivery! We named the new restaurant Tamale Town, and with the support of our amazing community, somehow our small business survived that horrible time. We were closed for almost 18 months to the public, but we never worked harder….

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @highburymke
• Facebook: Joe Katz Or Highbury Milwaukee
• Twitter: @thehighbury

Image Credits

Associated Press
On Milwaukee
Thrillist