Partner Spotlight: Transfer Pizzeria Café

Representing our partner Transfer Pizzeria and Café, co-owner Russell Rossetto answers our questions about their community involvement and newly expanded restaurant.

Hi, what's one song you can't stop listening to?

"Back to the Sea" on Paper Holland's last album, "Galapagos"

What are you most passionate about in regards to what is happening in our community and what is Transfer doing for the community?

As everyone knows and feels, there are a ton of great things happening in our community. It's easy to focus on those very visible, positive developments, but we must keep an eye on leveraging those developments to simultaneously address the biggest structural and social issues facing us. At Transfer, from the beginning, we strove to become a community institution. That means being responsive to changing needs, forging strong partnerships, supporting organizations and movements that are addressing real issues, adhering to holistic approaches to our practices.

How did Transfer get started and what is in store for 2018-2019?

That's a long story! You could call it serendipity, but that didn't make it any easier to pull off. The short and sweet version: My brother and I and a couple of friends were all in flux in our careers and ready to dive into something of our own making. Combined, we had all the pieces of the puzzle, but we all put everything we had into the pot. Thinking back on it, it was a brazen gamble, but survival was our only good choice. Fortunately that's what happened!

We have just entered a new phase as we pass our ten year mark. We expanded into a neighboring building and did what we could with the space, adding a carry-out storefront that we'll be growing into in the coming year, in addition to creating a really fun new space for private events, parties, shows, whatever. That space is called "The Haven Room," named after The Haven Bar that occupied that space for many decades mid last century. We even have the old Haven Bar sign from the exterior of the building up in the new space.

Why do you choose to support 88Nine?

We support 88Nine for many reasons, but one is we grew up together! We often had the work boombox set to Radio Milwaukee while hammering on the original space. But 88Nine and Transfer Pizzeria Café also share an ethos, what we see as the only way to exist. You reflect the community because you are a part of it. You keep your feet on the ground. A Milwaukee radio station but also an invaluable community portal. Thank you for being!