Milwaukee respiratory therapist and long-time hobby baker Stephen Meenk is getting ready to trade in some of his scrubs for pizza peels. He plans to open Meenk Bros Pizza Co. at 8415 W. Burleigh St., a compact shop built around New York-style pies, cold-fermented dough and specialty ingredients. The business is set up to run primarily as a takeout and delivery operation, and Meenk is aiming for a late summer or early fall 2026 debut while he continues working his day job and managing the buildout.
As reported by Urban Milwaukee, Meenk is planning a streamlined setup that skips traditional table service at first. Orders are expected to flow through Slice Life or an on-site kiosk, with third-party delivery partners handling runs to nearby homes and businesses. Meenk, who says he “can pretty much do it blindfolded” when it comes to pizza prep, also told the outlet his 13-year-old son might help out with shifts during the summer. The article notes that the site’s previous tenant, Brew City Pickles, exited the space in October 2025, citing “unforeseen building issues.”
From Pickles To Pie
The Burleigh Street building has been something of a revolving door for small food businesses. Brew City Pickles moved into the former Bunzel’s Meat Market at the same address in 2020, according to OnMilwaukee. That built-in kitchen footprint is part of what makes the spot appealing for a lean pizzeria that can function with a small staff and limited seating.
Neighbors along the corridor have already seen a steady turnover of independent food ventures in recent years, and Meenk Bros Pizza Co. would be the latest to try to make the narrow space work.
Ownership, Permits And Timeline
City zoning records list MJT Pickle Properties LLC in connection with 8415 W. Burleigh St. in filings dating back to 2020, according to City of Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals minutes. Meenk told reporters that his team is in the process of closing on the building and working through the required permits and licenses, with the goal of opening in late summer or early fall 2026, per Urban Milwaukee.
What To Expect
Meenk plans to start with a tight, familiar lineup: cheese, pepperoni, sausage and vegetable pies as the core of the menu, with possible expansions to ricotta and bianca pizzas. The focus, he says, will be on ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes and specialty pepperoni, and on dough that gets a slow, cold ferment for added flavor and chew.
If customer response justifies it, Meenk Bros Pizza Co. may add dine-in service later, but only after the takeout and delivery model is firmly in place.
