MILWAUKEE — Come for the coffee and stay for the jazz. Or the other way around - come for the jazz and stay for the coffee. Either way, you can't go wrong at a new hot spot for jazz in Milwaukee, Sam's Place Jazz Cafe at 3338 N. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr.
"(There is) no greater thing you can do is sit down and be able to enjoy a cup of brew - a coffee - and listen to jazz, and not be in a hurry," Sam Belton, the owner of Sam's Place Jazz Cafe said.
It has the sleek and classy interior of a jazz club with the homey vibes of a neighborhood cafe. Sam's Place is also a full-on restaurant. This is nothing new to Belton, though. He also owns City.Net Jazz Cafe on 306 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.
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Sam's Place wasn't opened by just one person. This was made by the people, for the people. Bader Philanthropies held community chats to learn what neighbors wanted in Harambee. The jazz cafe was one of the things they came up with.
“This is one of those things to have a restaurant in the neighborhood - a restaurant and a coffee house and be able to have a place where people can come together and socialize," Belton said.
What's particularly special about Sam's Place is that customers can order their own freshly roasted coffee exactly to their taste and bring it home. Belton has been brewing coffee since 2006.
Good jazz and better coffee at the new hotspot for jazz in Milwaukee - Sam's Place Jazz Cafe in Harambee.
— James Groh (@JamesGroh_) February 22, 2021
This is the owner Sam Belton 🥁 pic.twitter.com/RZRYS8xNb6
"But you can order a pound of coffee, and so you can get it freshly roasted, how you want it roasted, and what particular kind of coffee you want while you're sitting here, and leave with a fresh bag of coffee," Belton said.
Live jazz will be performed Fridays through Sundays with up-and-coming artists, professionals and even special guests.
"Workshops as well, because we have people we know that, Grammy-award winning musicians, and they can easily come in and do workshops here as well," he said.
They are also hoping to host spoken word recitals on Thursdays or Fridays too.
It's open Monday through Sunday starting at 7 am.