Earlier this year, I asked a Starbucks manager about the rumor that the chain would open a coffee shop in the new development that replaced a dilapidated old gas station on Prospect and North Avenues. The employee confirmed it would open in October next to a Bruegger's Bagels.
Now that the building is finished, it turns out that Starbucks won't open in the space directly across the street from Whole Foods' cafe and a roughly 15-second walk to Alterra on Prospect.
That explains why every space in the odd development has a for lease sign in the window. I call it "odd" because it seems amazing that someone would develop a single-story retail building on that corner instead of creating something that mixes retail and residential or retail and entertainment.
Sure, it's better than a crumbling eyesore of a disused gas station, but it's hardly anything to get excited about. Unless, of course, Jeff Sherman convinces Jamba Juice to open there.
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.
