March Marks a Milestone 35th Anniversary for Saz’s Restaurant

This Milwaukee icon survives and thrives with award winning food and new avenues for reaching customers

Milwaukee, WI-- The restaurant business isn’t an easy business. Yet Saz’s has maintained a steady customer base through good economic times and bad. March 1st marks Saz’s 35th anniversary.
Saz’s State House Restaurant continues serving customers at the original State Street location in an historic 3-story building on the eastern edge of the energized Wauwatosa Village. Customers can also find Saz’s in exciting new venues like The Tundra Tailgate Zone at Lambeau Field. And in 2010 Saz’s new division, Sazama’s Fine Catering, became the exclusive caterer for the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.
This year the Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce presented Saz’s State House and Steve Sazama with the Small Business Award. Sazama has also been presented with the Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association – Milwaukee Chapter.
Saz’s is one Milwaukee tradition that isn’t resting on its laurels. Saz’s owner, Steve Sazama, looks at business with the enthusiasm of a new business owner. “You might think 35 years in a business would grow old. But honestly every year brings something new and frankly I can’t wait to see what comes next,” stated Sazama.
Joe Brueggemann, Director of Saz’s Catering, believes that 2011 will bring more excitement. “We’re thrilled to offer Sazama’s Lakeside Grille at Summerfest again this year,” stated Brueggemann. “This oasis of upscale dining by the lake right in the middle of Summerfest was enthusiastically received last year and we are looking forward to offering more options for customers this year.
2011 is also the first full year for Saz’s retail division as the “Barbecue Partner of the Green Bay Packers”. With the Packers winning the Super Bowl this year the timing was nothing short of incredible.
Sazama appreciates his customers for their loyalty and patronage for over three decades. “We have been so fortunate to have really great customers, not just at the restaurant, but at State Fair, the summer festivals and with our ever expanding catering services and retail products,” stated Sazama. “Believe me we don’t take them for granted. We listen to our customers and encourage their feedback so we can continue to give them The Finest.”
Saz’s restaurant will feature special offers for customers throughout the month of March, which can be found on their website, sazs.com. The special offers include an anniversary dinner special, Dinner for Two for $35, in celebration of the 35th year and Throwback Tuesdays, which features special prices on drinks and appetizers.

About Saz’s
Milwaukee-based Saz’s Enterprises includes Saz’s State House Restaurant, Saz’s Catering, Saz’s Barbecue retail products, Saz’s Festivals, and Sazama’s Fine Catering. Owned and operated by Steve Sazama.

Steve Sazama, known throughout the Milwaukee area as Saz, opened Saz’s State House Restaurant in March 1976. With a recipe for barbecue sauce and determination to run a first-rate restaurant, he opened Saz’s in an inviting, historic building on State Street. The restaurant continues to feature his award-winning barbecue ribs and signature barbecue pork sandwich in addition to Saz’s Festival Famous Sour Cream and Chive Fries and Mozzarella Marinara.

Saz’s Catering division, opened in 1990. In addition to catering parties, corporate events, weddings, picnics and tailgates, Saz’s Catering provides services for many local events, including the Hospitality Village at Wisconsin State Fair, the VIP Towers at Road America, Summerfest Corporate Venues, and the Tundra Tailgate Zone. Saz’s caters over 1,800 events annually ranging in size from five to 20,000 guests per event.

In 1992, Saz took his famous original recipe barbeque sauce to grocer shelves and started the Barbecue Products division. In addition to the three barbecue sauce flavors, Saz’s BBQ shredded Chicken and Pork, BBQ Ribs, Mini Mozzarella Sticks and Sour Cream and Chive Fries are distributed through local grocery stores and at sazs.com. In 2010 Saz’s became the “Barbecue Partner of the Green Bay Packers”.

Festivals Division brings Saz’s signature products to Summerfest, Wisconsin State Fair and a multitude of summer ethnic festivals in the greater Milwaukee area.

Sazama’s Fine Catering division was created in 2010. Sazama’s is a full service caterer in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts providing exceptional cuisine, impressive service and unwavering attention to detail for wedding receptions, high profile corporate events and a myriad of social affairs. Sazama’s also operates Sazama’s Lakeside Grille at Summerfest.

Contact Information

Kathy Fitzsimmons

Sales and Marketing Director

Saz’s

Contact via E-mail