Want a giant coffee cup? The new Caradaro Club on Vliet Street can help

The Caradaro Club, 1417 S. 70th St., in West Allis, will open a second restaurant in the space at 5010 W. Vliet St. You know it; it's the one with the big coffee cup -- dating back to when the place was a coffee shop -- on top.

The new restaurant was announced in November with a planned opening date of January 2010.

Obviously, that hasn't happened yet. Building owner Peter Grimes told the Business Journal that the cup would be replaced with a slice of pizza before the opening and as of yesterday the cup was still in place.

Current owner Wally "Wally the Pizza Guy" Kutch wants to find a good home for the big ol' cuppa joe. If you're interested, drop him an e-mail.

Founded by John Caravella and Joe Todaro in 1945, the original Caradaro Club in the Third Ward (in what is now Catalano Square) introduced pizza to Milwaukee. When the Todaro family sold the business a quarter century later, the new owners remained in that space until a fire destroyed it in 1978.

Caradaro only offers carryout and delivery in West Allis, but there will be a dining room on Vliet Street.

There's a sign announcing the new arrival, but it appears that other work still needs to be done, too. Stay tuned.