The 4th District lost one of the city’s longest standing businesses recently … and quickly welcomed another.
In case you missed it, Frank and Pat Dembowski have sold Creative Catering on 17th and Rawson Avenues to Emerald City Catering and owner Steve “Oz” Ozbolt, who is already putting his stamp on the business.
For starters, he added a new coat of yellow paint to the building and replaced the sign. And he has plans for the business itself, including some menu changes (think: more barbecue and individual meal options) and new hours that will have the store open for takeout lunches and dinners. Steve is also selling his own line of barbecue sauces from Emerald City.
I stopped by and met Steve Tuesday night, and I was impressed.
He told me his interesting story — just your everyday story of a fire protection services worker who decided to follow his heart, and stomach, and open a catering business out of the basement of Blessed Sacrament parish on Milwaukee’s South Side two years ago. He didn’t have immediate plans to move but heard about the Creative Catering opportunity from a friend of a friend … and the rest is history.
Among his clients? The Milwaukee Brewers. Emerald City caters the team’s home locker room spread on occasion.
Be sure to stop by and say hi. I’m already looking forward the BBQ.
At the same time, let’s also not forget the contributions of Dembowskis to South Milwaukee. I wish them the best in retirement and thank them for calling South Milwaukee, and the 4th District, home for more than 30 years.
It’s small businesses like this that are the backbone of our local retail landscape — and it’s small businesses like this that will be the foundation of its future.
Learn more about Emerald City at its website.
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