Small Move, Big Expansion

Michael J. Schwantes, president of CBS-Global/Creative Business Services, announces the sale of the former Applebee’s property located at 129 N. Madison Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. The property is being purchased by Jason and Laura Estes who, since 1996, have successfully owned and operated Sonny’s Pizzeria at 43 S. Madison, Sturgeon Bay.

The expansion of Sonny’s to the former Applebee’s location will give the pizzeria the opportunity of continued growth. With the addition of new business avenues, the business will expand its pizza menu to include other signature Italian dishes. Signature ice cream creations will be offered to families on the first level, along with the latest in arcade machines. In addition, the entrance to the facility will include a signature coffee kiosk that will have drive-up service for hot beverages and specialty donuts during the day, and delivery pickup options for families wanting to pick up pizza and other Italian specialties directly from their vehicle.

In addition, there will be opportunities to provide off-site catering from the catering kitchen located on the first level of the facility.

The second level of the restaurant will continue to offer their traditional pizza and Italian family dishes. They will also add Neapolitan pizza, which is the hottest food offering in the country today.

The location also features a liquor license, which will give the business an opportunity to have two full-service bars, one on the second level and one on the outer deck. The outdoor bar, which will be called Gilligan’s Tiki Bar, will have a reasonably priced, yet high quality patio menu specializing in fish tacos and other seafood items. The overall nautical theme will be continued and even enhanced by the addition of a large aquarium at the restaurant’s entrance.

Sonny’s Pizzeria will have a new name, Sonny’s Pizzeria & Italian Bistro. Sonny’s legacy for great pizza and Italian food will be further enhanced as they expand the menu to include the Neapolitan pizza, which will be baked in a specialty $40,000 wood-fired pizza oven.

Sonny’s will co-market their location with the Bridgeport Hotel, the adjacent condo-hotel.

The Bridgeport is extremely well managed and enjoys a high occupancy rate, a perfect neighbor and partner for further development of this beautiful area.

The second business that will be managed by the Estes family will be called DC Donut & Coffee Company. Customers will enjoy the convenience of stopping for an Intelligentsia coffee or tea, or perhaps order a homemade donut topped with the topping of their choice.

Sonny’s Pizzeria & Italian Bistro and DC Donut & Coffee Company are scheduled to open the first quarter of 2015. Portside Properties has been retained to do the improvements to the property. Wisconsin Hospitality, former owners of the property, retained local business brokers, Michael Schwantes, Bob Wolter and Josh Phillips of CBS-Global/Creative Business Services.