Liberio ("Bobby") Zaffiro and his younger brother, John, grew up on Milwaukee's East Side. Their father was an immigrant from Sicily, believed to have worked 56 years for the Schlitz Brewing Company.
In 1951, Bobby opened the Rock-a-Bye Tap in Milwaukee’s then predominantly Italian Third Ward district, located at Buffalo & Jackson Streets. His brother John worked for him.
When many bars and eating establishments
started serving pizza at that time, Bobby began offering pizza, too.
In 1956, Bobby opened Zaffiro's Restaurant at 1724 North Farwell Avenue - its present location. At that time the restaurant had only a few tables and a service bar.
In 1970, Bobby acquired the barber shop
next door to the restaurant, adding to the
establishment a dining room and a full bar.
The specialty of the house was Bobby’s
thin-crust pizza, which Zaffiro's is known for today.
The sauce for the pasta dishes was Bobby’s wife, Rose’s family’s recipe.
Bobby was the more extroverted brother, who worked the front of the restaurant. Customers loved being entertained by Bobby - often breaking into song and joke, he belonged behind the bar.
John Zaffiro made pizza until 1988, when he retired. Bobby Zaffiro died the following year -- after which, Bobby's wife, Rose, and two sons, Michael and Joe, took over the business. John Zaffiro passed away in 2006. Presently, Zaffiro’s is owned by Michael and his wife, Rose.
Zaffiro’s Pizza is famous for its thin-crust pizza, other dishes and neighborhood bar-like atmosphere, serving five generations of families.