The Good Life – January-February 2019

ON THE COVER | THE MEYERS
They continued the idea of Chicagostyle
street food at a location on
45th Street next to J.T. Cigarro’s.
Bert said, “It was successful. We
made money but we could have
made more.”
Most people discovered Bertrosa’s
in its final location in downtown
Fargo in the lower level of The Black
Building opening in July 2002. Bert
asserted, “Downtown was where we
got our footing — where Bertrosa’s
took off. But it did take a while for
people to understand what we were.”
Lisa said, “Because we had Chicago
in the title, people would confuse
us with the chain restaurant, Old
Chicago.”
The Bertrosa’s menu came from the
food Bert and Klaus grew up eating,
such as Italian beef sandwiches and
Chicago-style hot dogs. Klaus added,
“We moved from Chicago when we
were kids but we stayed connected.”
Bert asserted, “It is the greatest city
in the country.” They visit Chicago
at least once a year and have a big
connection to the Windy City.
They then sought something
different, and their chance came
when a new type of liquor license
came out in Fargo – the Z License.
Bert explained, “When the new
Z licenses came out, Klaus and
I, along with my cousin, Ron said
‘let’s do this.’ We put a $200 check
down at the City of Fargo and we
were chosen. We borrowed money
from family, sold Bertrosa’s, sold
20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com