Greenfire and fireside MARKET recently welcomed Potawatomi Ventures interns and students from the Career Exploration program to the construction site of the new fireside MARKET in Slinger, WI. The visit introduced the students to the work of Potawatomi Ventures subsidiaries and highlighted how cross-subsidiary collaboration drives long-term value for the Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC).

Greenfire is managing construction of the 9,500 SF fresh food-forward convenience store, located at the intersection of Hetzel Way and State Highway 60. The store is being developed by Potawatomi Venture’s development arm, Sagewind Development, and will serve as the first retail tenant in Merchant Village. The project is nearing completion this summer.

Alongside David Lloveras, Vice President and General Manager of fireside MARKET and the Greenfire project team, the students toured the site and learned about Greenfire’s construction management process and how the team coordinates with the architect and engineers to bring the project out of the ground. The visit also provided insight into fireside MARKET’s operational plans and how the store model combines convenience with food service, drive-thru access, EV charging, and online ordering.

With the steel frame and core building work completed, the project has advanced into final stages. Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems are in place, and exterior finishes are wrapping up. Paving is underway for customer parking, fueling stations, and truck access. Underground fuel systems and a large retaining wall along the northern perimeter for the drive-thru have been installed.

The collaboration between Greenfire and fireside MARKET is an example of Potawatomi Ventures subsidiaries working together to support FCPC’s long-term economic development strategy. The interns left with a stronger understanding of how these efforts deliver value — not only through construction and retail operations, but by contributing to the Tribe’s broader goals of investment, growth and opportunity.

Greenfire is managing the construction on fireside MARKET’s newest location in the Village of Slinger, WI. Developed by Sagewind Development, the 9,500 SF fresh food-forward market is taking shape at the intersection of Hetzel Way and State Highway 60, just off Interstate 41. This new market will be an anchor within Merchant Village, a 130-acre commercial development by Three Leaf Partners, which is already progressing with infrastructure work. Greenfire is working alongside the site’s engineer firm The Sigma Group, and working with Boston-based architecture firm NELSON Worldwide.

The fireside MARKET building has officially been topped out with steel frame construction complete. With the core and shell complete, focus has now shifted to interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems and exterior finishes. As spring rolls into summer, site activity will pivot to the remaining infrastructure and landscaping on the site. Underground fuel systems, including pumps, tanks, and lines, have been installed, and paving will soon begin for customer parking, fueling stations, EV charging areas, and diesel truck turnabouts. A large retaining wall will be installed along the site’s northern perimeter.

Greenfire has maintained steady progress on the project by assembling a trusted network of trade partners, and our project team is working to keep the site safe and secure without incident.

fireside MARKET will serve as a welcoming hearth for both Slinger residents and travelers along I-41, figuratively and literally, with an indoor-outdoor fireplace for guests to relax by. The store will offer fresh, made-to-order food, a café, outdoor greenspaces, a convenient drive-thru, and options for online ordering with curbside pickup. As the first retail tenant in Merchant Village, it will set the tone for future growth.

Greenfire is proud to bring this innovative retail experience to life in Southeast Wisconsin and bolster fireside MARKET’s market presence with their market and convenience store model.

At the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) Governor’s Conference in downtown Milwaukee, Davidson Park was front and center stage.

Davidson Park has quickly become a vibrant public space in Milwaukee’s Near West Side, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Harley-Davidson Motor Company Foundation, Near West Side Partners, the Forest County Potawatomi Community, and the surrounding neighborhoods – all brought to life by Greenfire. As the construction manager, Greenfire played a crucial role in turning the Foundation’s vision into reality. Working with International project designers Heatherwick Studio and local architects and engineers HGA, the project team was able to centrifuge community collaboration, historical symbolism, locally sourced design elements and sustainable functionality into a thriving yet evolving public space.

Greenfire’s Simmi Urbanek, Director of Marketing and Business Development, moderated a panel featuring key project stakeholders for Davidson Park. The panel included April Gianeselli, Manager Community Impact, Harley-Davidson Foundation, Peter Balistrieri, Principal, HGA and Lindsey St. Arnold-Bell, Executive Director, Near West Side Partners.

The panel shared insights on how private-public partnerships and neighborhood engagement coalesced in the development of Davidson Park. In the initial development phases, a series of “Appreciative Inquiry Summits” helped refine the project vision, ensuring that community input shaped everything from the design of the park’s playground and gathering spaces to sustainable stormwater management solutions.

Davidson Park was designed to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s legacy; help revitalize the Near West Side and create a year-round gathering space. Key design elements include:

• Flexible, Multi-Purpose Space: A destination that supports recreation, cultural events, and neighborhood programs throughout the year. Since opening in June 2024, Davidson Park has already hosted over 15 community events, bringing new energy, resources, and experiences to the Near West Side. The park has not only met its original vision but has also inspired unexpected uses—such as live music and dance performances—further enriching the neighborhood.
• Sustainable Solutions: Replacing a parking lot with green space. Pervious pavers, and retention basins helped to manage stormwater and reduce strain on the sewer system. Also, the utilization of reclaimed and locally sourced building materials and native plantings.
• Community-Driven Features: Residents helped shape the park’s garden, playground, and artistic elements, ensuring it reflected their needs. Design elements of the park include student-design brick mosaic patterns, and a MIAD-student designed centralized medallion in The Hub, the park’s central point in the sunken amphitheater. The park also features a serenity garden, designed and developed in collaboration with the Forest County Potawatomi Community.

Davidson Park stands as a model for how private-public partnerships can transform urban spaces, proving that when communities are engaged from the start, the results are both meaningful and lasting.

Read more about Davidson Park and Greenfire’s construction efforts to bring it to life here.