Stubby’s Gastrogrub & Beer Bar, 2060 N .Humboldt Blvd., will close permanently on Friday, Dec. 23, according to a letter posted to the Riverwest restaurant’s Facebook page.
“After 12 incredible enriching years, Stubby’s will be permanently closing our doors,” wrote owner Brad Todd in the letter. “This decision truly did not come lightly.
“We owe over a decade of success to our employees, regulars and now lifelong friends who are the heart and soul of what started as a gastropub and became a family.”
The post added that Stubby's will be open regular hours through Friday, regardless of weather.
Todd also co-owns La Masa Empanada Bar on Brady Street, which he said in his letter, has plans for “future growth.”
“Although saying goodbye to Stubby’s is incredibly emotional, I am excited to continue my passion in the industry.”
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 can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.
