Cafe Brucke, 2101 N. Prospect Ave., will soon be known as Allium.
Jennifer Pierce-Haig, who has owned Brucke since 2010 with her husband Stephen Haig Marks, wrote on Facebook last night that the process of conversion is underway.
"We are beginning the metamorphosis of Cafe Brucke," she posted. "We will become Allium by name but remain dedicated to the spirit of a European cafe-bistro. A refuge from mediocrity in Milwaukee."
Pierce-Haig told me the transformation is expected to be complete by mid-June.
The description on the new Allium-MKE Facebook page calls the new restaurant, "An Avant-Garde destination serving Milwaukee as a unique spot for terrific beer, wine and food that embodies the spirit of Europe. Not only artistically and thematically but through the dedication to local products, music and art."
"Our menu will still be seasonal and supplied locally and through Braise with many changes," says Pierce-Haig. "We are making our own pasta in house for specials, plus a continental brunch on Sunday."
I stopped by this morning – the bistro is, of course, closed at this early hour – and could see no immediate visual differences and the sign outside is still the Cafe Brucke placard.
When I tweeted this news last night, a number of people replied immediately to express their love of the restaurant, so I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that the change appears to be happening mostly in name only.
The Allium-MKE url is registered but no site is yet there.
Allium, of course, is a type of flowering plant.
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.
