More than a year after closing, Maria's Pizza will be back soon under new ownership

Maria’s Pizza will return soon to 5025 W. Forrest Home Ave. under new ownership.

The beloved pizza spot, which closed on June 26, 2022, will open again in January, pending restaurant and liquor license approvals, according to its new owner, Brian Francis.

Maria Traxel opened the restaurant in 1957. Bonnie Crivello, Traxel's daughter, owned Maria's Pizza with her niece, Maria Story, before it closed.

Francis finalized ownership of the restaurant in September with his wife, Jennifer. The ownership included the rights to the name and the original recipes.

Crivello will help with the first few batches of dough and pizza sauce to make sure the recipes remain the same, Francis said.

"My goal is to carry on the tradition of Maria's Pizza without changing it," Francis said. "If it's not broke, I'm not going to fix it."

The pizza will remain authentically Maria's Pizza, which Milwaukeeans had come to love for more than 65 years, as hours-long lines showed on their closing day.

However, after some feedback, Francis applied for a liquor license and hopes people can eventually enjoy their pizza with a glass of wine or a beer.

Francis owns Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill in Franklin, which serves authentic Irish food and American pub food. His passion for restaurants began as a kid when he helped his parents with their restaurant and inn in Antonito, Colorado.