West Side Stories

Maggie Bersch was the youngest daughter of Dennis and Clare when she succumbed to childhood cancer at the tender age of eight. Her smile is remembered by the many lives she touched, especially those at Christ King School, where she was a student. Her classmates and those of her older sisters rallied around Maggie and the family during her long illness. And although she was loved and supported by so many people in the Christ King community, and cared for by the medical team at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, it wasn’t enough to keep her here with us. Maggie lost her fight with cancer in November of 2004.

However, Maggie’s smile lives on in so many ways. It lives on in the memories of her family and friends and on August 30th, it will live on through the participants of MAGGIE’smile, a 1 Mile Fun Run (and Walk) to benefit the Maggie Bersch Memorial Fund at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The fund was actually started over thirty years ago by Maggie’s grandparents, Dennis and Mary Bersch, and enhances the stays of children who need to be in the hospital. It was renamed in her honor after her death.

It would make Maggie smile to know that so many people will be gathered in her name to help put smiles on the faces of the kids at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Counting Our Blessings

I know we’re all sick of the rain, but I was reminded this weekend that we were truly blessed that Tosa wasn’t hit harder these past couple of weeks.

Yesterday, my husband, daughter and I went down to Glenview, IL where my family lives to lend a helping hand. Glenview is very similar to Wauwatosa, only a little bigger. Last Thursday, they had an unexpectedly strong storm packing 70 mph winds. Most residents in the area were without power since the storm.

My parents were in pretty good shape with their primary loss being a refrigerator full of food that had to be tossed. They spent their power-less days doing old-fashioned things like listening to the radio and reading books.

Unfortunately, my sister and her husband ended up with more than three inches of water in the basement. To make matters worse, their bedroom is down there. Needless to say, it was a mess! And yet, even they were lucky compared to residents of other areas of the Midwest. I have a friend near LaCrosse whose home is a total loss.

Sometimes you realize that you're really, really fortunate. Yesterday was one of those days for me.

Having lived in Tosa for more than 15 years, I’ve seen a few businesses come and go. I’ve seen shops that seemed irresistible to me close their doors in practically no time at all. While there have been restaurants with ho-hum menus but lines forming out the door.

So what is it that makes a business successful in Wauwatosa?

To me, the answer is value. Tosans are savvy shoppers and diners. They don’t fall for glitz and glamour without substance. They appreciate a good deal and they like their businesses home-brewed, thank you very much. Contrast that to bursting Brookfield where hardly a day goes by without the opening of another chain store or restaurant.

For example, Mayfair Mall boasts three large and somewhat pricey restaurants on its property – The Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s and Maggiano’s Little Italy. For the first year or so after they opened, it was virtually impossible to get a table without waiting almost an hour. Today, the waits are generally short except at peak times. Could it be that we’ve grown bored with dinner served by giant conglomerates? No doubt that the McCormick and Schmick Seafood Restaurant due to open at Mayfair will face the same challenges.

Drew’s Variety Store has thrived for decades with its decidedly lowbrow approach to anything and everything under one roof. Whereas the brand-spanking new Lowes on Burleigh Road has seemed rather empty whenever I’ve visited. I think it may have to do with a combination of trust and habit. We’re in the habit of returning to those places where we’ve had good service and know we can find good products.

Two more recent success stories are Vino 100 and Firefly Urban Grill. Who knew that a wine bar like Vino 100 (which admittedly is part of a chain) could be so popular in tiny Tosa? Visit on a balmy summer night and you’ll find their quaint patio packed with patrons. And Firefly, which rose out of the ashes of the critically acclaimed but rarely crowded Bjonda, has seen brisk business since it morphed into a stylish yet casual neighborhood bar and grill.

And it seems that a little healthy competition between John’s Sandwich Shop and the new City Market down the street has led to bustling business for both restaurants.

Now we have two tiny boutiques – Jilly & George and Urban Laundry - right across from each other on Harwood. Unfortunately, the village pipe construction has likely put a damper on their business this summer. But it will be interesting to see if they do well long-term. Will Tosa fashionistas flock to them?

So what do you think? What makes a Tosa business successful? What new shops or restaurants look like particularly good bets from your experience? E-mail me at westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com and I’ll share your thoughts. That is, of course, if you do e-mail me – hint, hint.

On a typical school day, the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Wauwatosa Avenue (76th Street) can be pretty challenging. Between students from Tosa East, Lincoln, St. Bernard’s and those heading towards Longfellow, drivers have to be alert and proceed slowly and cautiously in the morning and the mid-afternoon.

Now that there’s pipe work construction blocking several streets in the village, this same intersection will likely become a huge headache for those who can’t avoid it. Already, rush hour traffic is clogging that intersection and the one just west of it – Underwood and Milwaukee – with cars detouring around the construction.

Early reports have the work finishing up prior to Tosa Fest which starts September 8th. Given the age of the pipes involved, the few mishaps that have already happened (i.e. at least three instances of pipes being hit during construction) and any unforeseen obstacles that may occur, that date may be a tad optimistic.

Tosa schools open on September 4th this year. Here’s hoping that the construction will move swiftly. Otherwise, we’re all going to have to use a lot of patience and caution when navigating that area. Plan ahead and drive s-l-o-w-l-y.