The former Open Pantry store at 1515 E. North Ave., near Cambridge, is currently being renovated and will house the first Wisconsin location of D.P. Dough calzones. The eatery is expected to open in late spring.
The Columbus, Ohio-based chain, founded in Massachusetts in 1987, has more than 25 locations in 17 states – typically choosing college towns – and stays open until 3 a.m. to cater to the post-bar-time and late-night-test-cramming crowds.
The Milwaukee franchise – owned by husband and wife, Mike and Georgina Styke – is directly across the street from Cambridge Commons – UW-Milwaukee housing – and across the viaduct from RiverView Residence Hall, another UWM dorm building.
D.P. Dough makes a wide variety of calzones, including many unexpected tastes, like cheeseburger; pineapple, ham and mozzarella; and barbecued chicken. The menu also offers the option to make your own with up to four ingredients.
Did I mention that the shop also delivers?
The 2,500-square foot former Open Pantry has been a boarded-up eyesore for about six years now and it’ll be nice not only to see it open again, but churning out what will surely be the great scent of calzones.
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.
