Why Prescott's Old Brickyard Patio Sat Empty So Long, and What's Coming to 216 Broad St.
October 22, 2026
October 22, 2026
The building at 216 Broad St. had a buyer within days of Lucille's closing in 2024. Two years later it still had no business inside. A large part of the delay came down to keeping its "Class B" liquor license with the property, and in Prescott those licenses are scarce. On Oct. 12, 2026, the Prescott City Council unanimously approved a new plan for the site called The Collective. The plan only got that far because a city committee agreed in May to keep the license tied to the address.
If you've walked past the empty building on your way to the riverfront, here's what happened, why it took so long, and what you'll see next.
The building is small. The Pierce County Journal reported in October 2024 that it covers 1,794 square feet and had just sold for $710,000. Here's the sequence, pieced together from that coverage and the city's own records:
The May 11 committee minutes explain the problem. City staff had let the owner keep the license while everyone expected the diner to open. Once the building was for sale, the owner reported that interested buyers wanted it only if the license stayed with it. After researching it, city staff concluded the license appears to be a reserve license, because it was issued after 1998. A buyer of the property would have to go through the new-license approval process rather than simply inherit it.
Reserve licenses are limited by a state quota tied to population. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Publication 309 lists population growth among the ways a municipality's quota can rise:
"A population growth of 500 persons (add one reserve license)"
The same publication says a licensee can move a retail alcohol license from one premises to another within the same municipality, with council approval, except reserve "Class B" liquor licenses.
The minutes put Prescott's numbers on the record:
| Quota checkpoint | Population |
|---|---|
| Last increase in Prescott's license quota | 4,260 |
| Wisconsin Department of Administration 2025 estimate | 4,559 |
| Next additional license becomes available | 4,760 |
That puts Prescott 201 residents short of its next license. Meanwhile, there was more demand than supply. The Corner Italian had told the city it wanted the 216 Broad license if it became available. The restaurant had applied before for one of the city's two available licenses, which went to The Roadhouse and Point St. Croix Marina.
So the committee's May vote settled more than one building. Keeping the license with 216 Broad meant the address stayed a place that could serve drinks, and anyone buying it knew what they were getting. Langer's plan depended on the license staying with the property, and the minutes say she'd pay the full fee as a new license holder. This is a summary of public records for neighbors who are curious, not legal advice on licensing. Anyone with a licensing question of their own should talk to the city and a qualified professional.
Langer already runs several Prescott properties. She converted the building at 201 Broad St. into The Port of Prescott, a boutique hotel that the Pierce County Journal reported in 2021 would open March 15 of that year. Her properties also include The Cove Guest House and The Harbor Hotel at 1020 U.S. Highway 10.
The Pierce County Journal's Oct. 14 report on the Plan Commission review describes The Collective as retail space with a walk-up bar and patio on the main floor, in a 32-foot building with LP siding, eight parking spaces, and rear access for deliveries. That report mentioned event and office space upstairs. At the council meeting, Langer said the architect turned down the event idea. Per the Prescott Community Television recording, the second floor will be offices only, and any events open to the public will happen on the main level or the patio.
From the same recording, here's what the building will offer at street level:
The council approved both resolutions with five ayes in a single motion. No opening date has been announced.
A council member asked about trash, since the plan has no dumpster on site. Langer answered that her downtown buildings fill their lots right to the property lines, so the only places for garbage cans would be the sidewalk or a neighbor's property. Her staff collects garbage from every one of her downtown businesses five to seven days a week, using a dedicated vehicle, and hauls it up to The Harbor on Highway 10. The Collective will use the same system as The Port and The Cove.
The same tight lot affects rainwater. City Planner Luke Wiese said runoff will go toward the alley, where new storm sewer lines will collect it. The development agreement sets June 1, 2027, as the deadline for finishing the public alley improvements. At the council meeting, staff described a change the developer requested: the city's reimbursement for that alley work will come in two payments instead of one lump sum at the end. One payment in fall 2026 covers the storm sewer improvements, and a second in spring 2027 covers paving and potential concrete work.
The Collective is being built a short walk from a riverfront the city has spent the last two years upgrading. In February 2025, the council awarded the Riverfront Improvement Phase 2 construction bid to Haas Sons, Inc. for $1,066,667. In April 2026, it approved an agreement with BNSF Railway for a controlled, at-grade pedestrian crossing at the tracks, which is part of that project. The city pays all construction costs for the crossing.
Smaller changes have been approved too. According to the Pierce County Journal's August coverage:
If you're curious how downtown changes like this one affect property on and near Broad Street, or you just want to talk through what's happening in Prescott, Tom Bullington Homes is glad to help. Let's Connect.
I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate here. It's not the same everywhere, so you need someone you can trust for up-to-date information. I am eager to serve you.