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In order to help restaurants continue to do business after restrictions have been put in place barring dining room service, the City of Milwaukee has created restaurant carryout zone signs.
The signs are aimed at helping accommodate customers stopping in to grab to-go orders at a time when restaurants are facing tough times due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The temporary program – which is completely free to restaurant owners – will help restaurants that don't have a loading zone in front of their business. The Department of Public Works program provides signage that creates a Carryout Zone in the equivalent of two parking spots near their location.
"As restaurants face uncertain times, this program is a way we can support those small businesses trying to better accommodate their customers," said Mayor Tom Barrett.
"While we will evaluate this program in the coming weeks, we anticipate continuing this for as long as the ‘No Dine In’ policy is in effect," added Commissioner of Public Works Jeff Polenske.
Restaurants can apply for the signage online at milwaukee.gov/dpw and the signage will be installed by the city within 48 to 72 hours of the request.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
