Formerly Node cafe, La Piazza, 1504 E. North Ave., has gone through a couple incarnations over the past year or so, trying its hand at being a cafe, a bar and a pizzeria.
It opened in summer 2007 and closed for remodeling shortly after. It reopened at the start of 2008.
Now, the "inexperienced" owners are looking to sell to someone with more background in the restaurant business.
Here's the listing from craigslist.org:
"Located on Milwaukee's hot East Side between Marquette University and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee on North Ave's Entertainment district. Formerly The Node currently La Piazza. New dorm just opened across the river another dorm just announced to be built across the street. 6000-sq. ft. building on a high visibility and high traffic corner location. The bar and restaurant infrastructure was constructed just over one year ago. Inexperienced operators have done all they can and now the Building's owner is looking for experienced operators who have experience marketing a hot location. All equipment is in place and current owner is willing to deal. If you are experienced and have an existing concept suited for the 21-30 market this could be your next location. Five year lease $3500 per month NNN. Building owner will assist experienced and qualified operator with financing."
So, if you wanna get into the pizza business, $60,000 buys you La Piazza on North Avenue.
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.
