John Graber went to the Christkindlmarket outside Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum and ordered a beer for $10.
Soon after, he went down to Chicago for the downtown Christkindlmarket. That same 12-ounce beer was only $8.
"I don't know why it would be $2 more in Milwaukee," Graber said.
It's surprising for anything to be more expensive in midsize Milwaukee than in Chicago, one of the largest cities in the country. Especially beer. Milwaukee is one of the least expensive cities in the country for drinking.
The German wines were also more expensive in Milwaukee. A wine pour with a souvenir mug is $8 in Chicago and $10 in Milwaukee.
What gives?
Both the Chicago and Milwaukee Christkindlmarkets are run by German American Events LLC, part of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
Both stands sell Bitburger, Kostritzer and Benediktiner beers. Milwaukee's market also sells Erdinger beer.
But German American Events just brings the vendors together, said Kate Bleeker, director of expansion and operations for German American Events.
"All of our vendors at all of our markets — the merchants and food — are independent," Bleeker said.
The beer stands outside Fiserv Forum are run by the Bucks, she said. Any decisions on how much to charge would be decided by the organization. Another firm runs the alcohol concessions at the Chicago market.
"We don't regulate any of their prices," she said.
The best deal to drink on the plaza remains a to-go cup from Good City Brewing's downtown taproom.
Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Be MKE at jsonline.com/bemke.
No comments:
Post a Comment