Jimmy's Grotto

Jimmy Rucci had been tending bar in downtown Waukesha for several years, when he and his wife Rosie decided to try their hands in the restaurant business. So, to the surprise of their neighbors, they tore the fourth story off their brick home and reassembled it next to the house. Little more than a small brick shack, Jimmy's Grotto opened for business August 15, at 311 E. Main St. The first day, they sold nearly 200 Italian Sausages. Rocky's brother Dick joined him. Until that time, Dick had been a foreman at AO Smith Corp. When Rocky left the Business in 1972, Dick and his wife Bobby ran the Grotto by themselves for a short time, before taking on Dick Obodowsky and his wife Lucy as partners. Dick O. had been a chef at the Village Pump in Brookfield before then. Rosie always had something good cooking, and often stopped by with something for the workers at the Grotto to try. One of those items was a pastie which consisted of tomato sauce and Ricotta cheese in a light crust. As good as they were, we had to start selling them. So, before the year was out, the first Ponza Rottas were served at Jimmy's Grotto. It wasn't much of a success at first, during the first couple months we only sold a couple a day. But it didn't take long for word of mouth to travel and within a year they became one of our best selling items.