Some new details have arrived about The Rumpus Room, the Bartolotta gastropub that will replace Eagan's at 1030 N. Water St. in autumn.
I'm excited to see what Bartolotta does with the gastropub, which is a new concept in the restaurant group's ever-more diverse portfolio.
News emerged in May that Eagan's would close after nearly 20 years and that Bartolotta's would take over the location.
Now, construction has begun in the large space that will house The Rumpus Room, named in honor of the tavern that T.J. Bartolotta ran for nine years in the 1950s and '60s at 29th Street and North Avenue.
Bartolotta is the father of Joe Bartolotta, who owns Bartolotta Restaurant Group.
"My dad provided inspiration for my work with The Bartolotta Restaurants and opening The Rumpus Room is one way we can pay tribute to his influence on our organization and the community." said Joe Bartolotta, in a statement.
Andrew Ruiz, Bacchus' chef de cuisine, will serve as executive chef at The Rumpus and corporate chef Adam Siegel and Joe's brother Paul Bartolotta – who runs a heralded restaurant in Las Vegas – will provide the restaurant's overall direction.
Lake Park Bistro sous chef Nicholas Wirth will replace Ruiz in his role at Bacchus in autumn, when The Rumpus Room opens and Ruiz moves there.
"The new gastropub is an opportunity to embrace a casual dining experience that combines your favorite restaurant and bar, unites them together with elements of reasonably priced quality food in a comfortable bar environment."
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.
