It's time for Dining Month, presented by Deer District and its spooky Halloween-themed alter ego, Fear District. Throughout the month of October, we'll be serving up fun and fascinating content about all things food. The signature dish, however, is our 2019 Best of Dining poll, who's winners we will dish out all month long. Get hungry, Milwaukee!
One of Milwaukee's classic custard stands, Kitt's Frozen Custard, 7000 W. Capitol Dr., is for sale.
According to a listing online, owner Ray Rydz is asking $899,900 for the business. His realtor, and niece, Missy Buttrum, says, "It is including all the equipment and memorabilia, and the 'Kitt's' name."
According to Buttrum, Rydz would like to retire.
The stand remains open while it's for sale.
The family, she says, hopes, "it goes to a great buyer who will appreciate its heritage. It will be a great investment. Sales are just under a million a year."
Kitt's was opened in 1952 by father and son Harry and John Kittredge with the help of Leon Schneider – whose name actually appears on the building permit for the stand.
It is the fourth oldest custard stand in town, after Gilles' (1938), Leon's (1942) and Kopp's (1950).
Rydz closed the stand for a few weeks last winter without explanation, though many customers had heard the owner was dealing with health issues. It reopened on March 1.
The 782-square foot stand sits on .35 acres of land
You can see the full listing here.
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.
