When owner Mark Eckert closed the doors to Von Trier, 2235 N. Farwell Ave., "for good" the last Monday of September, it was a well-known secret that Diablos Rojos -- owners of Cafe Hollander, Trocadero, Cafe Centraal and other Milwaukee hot spots -- was eyeing the space.
Rumor was that the plan was to clean up the place and add a kitchen, but to maintain the German character of Von Trier.
Now, a well-placed source, who asked to remain anonymous, says the deal is dead.
Eckert told OnMilwaukee.com that he plans to reopen the bar for business on Wednesday.
Last week, it seems, the deal to purchase Von Trier -- which has been a fixture on the East Side for more than 30 years -- fell apart.
According to the source, the prospective new owners hoped to open up again in time for Thanksgiving but "there was a major last-minute snafu and the deal is dead."
Another potential deal -- not involving Diablos Rojos -- is apparently being discussed.
Mike Eitel of Diablos Rojos did not immediately return requests for comment.
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.
