Ale Asylum’s tap room in Madison could serve as inspiration for Ale Asylum River House, a new restaurant proposed for the space formerly occupied by Molly Cool’s Seafood Tavern. Credit: CHELSEY LEWIS

SHARE

By of the

The inmates expect to arrive in 2015.

Madison restaurateur Tim Thompson has filed an application for a restaurant for the space at 1110 N. Old World 3rd St., left vacant by the recently departed Molly Cool's Seafood Tavern.

The proposed Ale Asylum River House would be a partnership between Thompson and Madison brewery Ale Asylum. Ale Asylum is a part of the business in name only, both Thompson and Otto Dilba, of Ale Asylum, said in a phone interview.

The restaurant will carry Ale Asylum brews such as Bedlam! IPA and Hopalicious, along with brews found only in the Ale Asylum taproom in Madison.

Ale Asylum River House would be the first Milwaukee restaurant for Thompson, who owns the Free House in Middleton, The Flying Hound in Fitchburg, The Library Cafe and Bar in Madison and The Tap Room at Hawk's Landing in Verona.

Dilba and brewmaster Dean Coffey have been friends with Thompson for more than a decade, going back to a meeting at Madison's former Angelic Brewery. They've stayed in touch even as Dilba and Coffey started Ale Asylum in 2006 and talked frequently about the possibilities of working together, Dilba said.

"I'm excited about everything Ale Asylum does. It happens to be my favorite brewery," Thompson said.

Dilba, whose title with the brewery is propagandist, also is enthusiastic.

"This really just boils down to two different business entrepreneurs' long-term respect for one another, and I couldn't be more excited to do it," he said.

Thompson paid his first visit to the Old World 3rd St. location 90 days ago (he brought Ale Asylum into the mix 45 days ago) then quickly pulled together a plan. He said the restaurant would focus on local sourcing.

"It's not a fine dining restaurant," Thompson said. "It will include well thought-out and tweaked versions of classic pub fare."

Thompson said he wasn't worried about discussion surrounding the BMO Harris Bradley Center and its probable move. The schedule of Bradley Center events, from Milwaukee Bucks to Marquette University games, is a plus, he said, and is making him work more quickly to get Ale Asylum River House up and running.

Plans to build a new downtown basketball arena, possibly farther from Old World 3rd St., wouldn't be a deal-breaker, Thompson said.

"I don't believe the location of the Bradley Center is a long-term driver of the success of the restaurant," he said.