WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomed a special guest, Steve “Saz” Sazama, founder of Saz’s, which marked its 50th anniversary on March 1 and is celebrating with “Festa Sazama” during Brewers Opening Weekend – this weekend – at Saz’s State House on 55th and State in Milwaukee.
Steve looked back at Saz’s first day in 1976, how that leap of faith paid off in the early years, and the moment he realized the State House was built to last. He told Jeff that a huge part of that staying power comes from relationships — with customers, purveyors, festival partners, and the employees who helped turn a neighborhood bar into a Milwaukee institution.
Saz shared the story behind their Mozzarella Marinara and other iconic menu favorites (including the famous combo plate), and reflected on longtime team members who went on to open spots of their own, including Bilda’s Friess Lake Pub in Hubertus and Leff’s Lucky Town in Wauwatosa. He talked about the pride that comes from watching those careers grow and the community the business has helped create over five decades.
You’ll hear inside stories from Saz’s State House, the Wisconsin State Fair, Summerfest, and more, plus some of Steve’s favorite bars and restaurants from both the past and present. Along the way, he also cites one of his core beliefs: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
Sherman concludes the show with insights on national community building from Olive Garden, and the current state of AI in the workplace and in our brains.
The Upswing is presented by Horicon Bank.
Dining and Cooking