Bartolotta Restaurants no longer will operate Northpoint Custard at the lakefront, but the group is poised to take over operations at the McKinley Marina roundhouse.

Ian Everett, spokesman for Milwaukee County Parks, said another vendor is in talks with the county to take over the Northpoint stand, at 2272 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. The new vendor reportedly is the operator of Casablanca, the Middle Eastern restaurants on Brady Street and in Brookfield.

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The county owns the custard stand and roundhouse buildings, which sit on public property.

Bartolotta Restaurants announced Monday it has a notice of intent from the county to assume operations at the marina. The County Board's approval is required before the restaurant group can take it over, but Bartolotta was the only company to submit a proposal for the roundhouse, at 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Everett said.

The County Board is expected to take up the matter in June or July.

The operator at the marina since 2010 was John Picciurro, owner of Pitch's Lounge and Miss Katie's Diner. Pitch's Express at the roundhouse sold items like barbecue ribs and meatloaf sandwiches

The building seats about 60 people indoors but needs updating, said a Bartolotta restaurants partner.

"We want to put in a whole kitchen there," said Joe Bartolotta.

In a written statement, the Bartolotta group said it plans to create "a beer-garden type space that takes advantage of the location and natural surroundings." The group still is finalizing food and drink options, but Bartolotta said he expects it would have mixed drinks in addition to beer. The location previously did hold a liquor license, which Northpoint Custard does not.

"You're right on the water," Bartolotta said of the roundhouse. He envisions picnic tables and lights strung over the space for outdoor seating.

"It's sort of an unknown building. I'm shocked at how many people don't know it's there," he added.

The group said it expects to have a soft opening yet this summer at the roundhouse if it is awarded the contract, with the full opening coming in 2020.

He said the parking lot at the marina will be under construction starting in mid-July. "We don't want to put our best foot forward and have people not be able to get to us," Bartolotta said.

"Clearly, we want to be ready for the DNC," Bartolotta added, referring to the Democratic National Convention coming to Milwaukee in 2020.

The Bartolotta group took over operations of Northpoint Snack Bar in 2009, after agreeing to repair the dilapidated structure. The county awarded the group a nine-year lease at the time.

The group will retain the Northpoint Custard name and concept and continue to operate Northpoint at Downtown Kitchen in the U.S. Bank Center downtown and in the corporate dining room at Kohl's Corp. headquarters in Menomonee Falls, and in partnership with SSP American at Mitchell International Airport.

Northpoint Custard also "may reappear some other place," Bartolotta said. "It's a concept we know is proven."

Among its other restaurants, the Bartolotta group also operates the seafood restaurant Harbor House at the lakefront, in partnership with philanthropist Michael Cudahy, and Lake Park Bistro. Both those restaurants also stand on public land.

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Contact Carol Deptolla at carol.deptolla@jrn.com or (414) 224-2841, or contact her through the Journal Sentinel Food & Home page on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter at @mkediner or Instagram at @mke_diner.