Late-Night Pizza Spot For Lincoln Village
Former Wisconsin Pizza Authority owner plots return on near South Side.
2107 S. 6th St. Photo by Sophie Bolich.
Bennet’s Pizza, a new restaurant proposed for Lincoln Village, could soon bring a slice of Italy to a neighborhood already known for its diverse dining options.
Joseline Munoz plans to open the pizza joint at 2107 S. 6th St., in the space that once housed Mercado Neza, a casual Mexican restaurant.
The proposed business would add to the growing variety of international cuisine in the area, which already features restaurants offering Serbian, Malaysian, Mexican, Salvadoran, American, and fusion fare.
Munoz cites “many years” of industry experience on her license application, and the new venture aligns closely with her background. She previously operated Wisconsin Pizza Authority, which had locations on Milwaukee’s East Side and in West Allis, though both have since closed.
The 872-square-foot restaurant is primarily focused on kitchen space, with a small public-facing lobby where guests can place orders at the counter. Bennet’s Pizza will offer carryout and delivery only, with no accommodations for dine-in service, according to the license application.
Though originally scheduled to open Nov. 21, the restaurant is still awaiting its license. A sign permit for the building was issued in late November, and in recent months, its exterior was refreshed with a coat of bright-red paint. No further construction is planned at this time.
Juan Sanchez owns the two-story building, which was originally constructed in 1908. Previous tenants have included an Italian market, Morelia’s, and various corner store iterations.
A license application for Bennet’s Pizza is pending before the Milwaukee Common Council. If approved, the restaurant plans to open daily at 11 a.m., with hours extending late into the night—until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
Bennet’s won’t be the only pizza restaurant in the neighborhood. The similarly named Benny’s Pizza operates at 1102 W. Lincoln Ave., on the opposite side of Kosciuszko Park.
Munoz could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
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I could provide much more history of this building. My “Dziadzia” (grandfather) Bartholomew Skibinski, a Polish immigrant, built it in 1908. He originally ran a shoe store there from 1908 to 1929, when the Depression changed his business model to a grocery store and butcher shop called Skibinski’s Food Shop.
My mother and all or her 10 siblings were actually born in and lived in the upper level apartment. Two of her siblings passed away as children there,
My parents (Joe & Germaine Krawczyk) bought the building and took over the grocery store operation in 1952 and ran it until 1960, when it closed. Although we were all born in hospitals (unlike my mother) my 8 siblings and I were all raised on the second floor.
The store was vacant until 1966 when Laczniak’s Sundries move in as my parents tenant. They sold soda, candy, ice cream, newspapers, notions and other small items until 1979, when Mr. Laczniak passed away.
The storefront was mostly vacant for many years after, but my father ran his income tax preparation and accounting service from a small office on the north side of the 1st floor. After my mother passed away in 1990, my father sold the building to Jose & Emerelda Ortiz.
Like the Polish immigrant family 85 years earlier, they opened and operated their business (Morelia’s Market) and raised their family upstairs until just a few years ago!
@Claude_Krawczyk, thanks for sharing all this great background about the building and your family. The building has certainly seen a lot, and a lot of KIDS!