Dino's Riverwest has once again closed its doors.
The bar and restaurant, which reopened under new ownership last December at 808 E. Chambers St. in Riverwest, announced the closing on August 2, 2022.
Their Facebook message read: "As of today, Dino's will be closing it's doors permanently. We thank you all for your support and love! We are all sad to see this spot go, as we have had so many great shows, meals and times together! We appreciate you!"
Co-owner Dan Budziszewski, who operated the restaurant with partner and building owner Mike Brumm, noted that he was unable to comment on the closing at this time.
The bar and restaurant has had a long and storied history in the neighborhood, and one which the two partners initially hoped to maintain.
It was 1969 when Leo "Dino" Dinon opened Dino’s at 808 E. Chambers St. in Riverwest. Over time, thanks to Dinon’s wife Rita's cooking, it soon became a cozy corner bar known for its delicious Italian fare, housemade pizzas and (eventually) wings. In the late 1980s, it was also one of the first bars in the city to serve Lakefront Brewery’s Riverwest Stein on tap.
When Dinon passed, the restaurant struggled, eventually closing in 2009. But in 2014, Dino's grandsons, Anthony and Lawrence Lococo, took up the family business, carrying on the legacy for four more years.
In 2018, the family made the decision to close for a second time; but this time, it marked the end of an era for a bar and restaurant that had been a Riverwest staple for over 50 years.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
