January 12, 2023 – West Bend, WI – After a bit of a wait Michaleno’s Pizzeria is opening its new location, 235 S. Main Street in West Bend, WI, on Friday, January 13, 2023. Owner Mike Herbert was stirring a pot of homemade marinara sauce late Thursday evening as he prepped for the Friday afternoon opening at 4 p.m.
“My son sent me a text, “Friday the 13th a great time to open up,” and I said, “Ha, ha. Never thought of that, I started dating your mom on Friday April 13, 1979. It’s a day of good luck,” said Herbert.
Originally the locally owned pizza place was slated to open Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Some delays with equipment and remodeling have pushed the opening out another week.
Previously located in the Paradise Plaza, Herbert, the owner and founder of Michaleno’s Pizzeria, had been looking the last two and a half years to buy a building so he wouldn’t have to renew his last lease again. Herbert was leasing space at 1032 Gateway Court in West Bend, WI; he owns the buildings for his other stores in Kewaskum, 250 Main Street, and Saukville, 234 E. Dekora.
The new location on S. Main Street will have inside seating for 33.
Michaleno’s Pizzeria was started in 2008 by Mike and Debbie Herbert in 2008. Their family, including four sons, Mike, Ryan, Greg and Daniel, are also involved. “This was our dream, to open a restaurant run by the family,” he said. “We have brought on other family members and friends to ensure the best customer service.”
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“The last thing on my financial bucket list, before my official retirement, was to leave the business to my kids… but I didn’t want them to have to negotiate a lease,” said Herbert referencing the West Bend store.
“I own the other two buildings in my locations outright. I must have looked at four or five locations in the last six months, but a remodel just didn’t make sense. Then, when I saw the Schalla location pop up, I said, ‘I’m not losing this one’ so we went in the next day and put the offer in right away.”
Aside from purchasing the building, Herbert’s biggest expense will be to add a brand-new exhaust to the parcel on S. Main Street.
Click HERE to read about the history of the building at 235 S. Main Street
