East North Avenue has gone through some dramatic changes in recent years, but any thoughts of the neighborhood dying are being forgotten as business owners say the area has never been stronger.

Mark Zierath expects to take over the bar at 2235 N. Farwell Ave. in mid-May from current owners John and Cindy Sidoff, who have owned Von Trier since November 2009.

Milwaukee has become a magnet for bars that feature more interactivity. Whether for a bachelor party or other group celebration, it's more engaging with some recreation. Billiards, darts and bar dice have given way to bowling, arcade games and axe throwing.

Maru takes the place of Kanpai 2, which opened last May in the longtime Izumi's space. Initially, the restaurant operated simply as a second location for the popular Kanpai Izakaya at 408 E Chicago St. in the Historic Third Ward, offering the same menu as its sister restaurant.

When Donut Squad (2264 N. Prospect Ave., 414-628-0833) announced its impending arrival on Milwaukee’s East Side in 2017, it had big, strange shoes to fill. The donut joint’s location was the former home of Suburpia, a beloved Milwaukee sub chain that had thrived throughout the ’70s and ’80s, and had managed to make it into the 21st century.

Splash Studio moved from the Third Ward to 1815 E. Kenilworth Place on the east side of Milwaukee. On Sunday, they held a grand reopening event.

Since opening in December, Crossroads Collective—a.k.a. one of the city’s first “food halls” located in the former Oriental Drugs space on the East Side—has been great.

The shop will be located at 1812 E. North Ave., adjacent to The Waxwing, where it has hosted pop-up shops in recent months. It has also sold merchandise at area craft fairs.