On October 8th, North Branch Works recognized Dolce Arte with our New Business of the Year Award at Fall Fest.

Owners and sisters Brittany and Stephanie Bertucci accepted this honor (pictured from left: NBW staff Phoebe von Conta, Brittany Bertucci & Stephanie Bertucci).

This award recognizes a business that is new to the North Branch and stands out for its accomplishments and future promise. When deciding who would be the right fit for the award, there was one business that stood out.

Dolce Arte is a cafe located at Avondale’s Rockwell on the River development (3057 N Rockwell St), in addition to their Bridgeport location.

Dolce Arte fans know the cafe as a place to come for freshly baked pastries and a convenient morning cup of coffee, best enjoyed along the riverfront along the back of the development.

This women-owned and sister-led cafe was inspired by the family’s experiences in Italy and rooted in a longtime tradition of family business. Their parents, Fred and Denise, opened the beloved Freddies in 1990 in Bridgeport.

This deep-rooted sense of history, place, and family values is what makes a place like Dolce Arte stand out to us.

Open 7 days a week, 7a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dolce offers early morning catering, as well as lunch and dinner options. Nearby Metropolis Coffee Company supplies the coffee brewed at Dolce Arte.

We have had the privilege of working closely with sisters Brittany Berticcu and Stephanie Bertucci Fitzpatrick throughout the year.

Dolce Arte Rockwell served as a respite during our two summer bike tours. Staff shared the story of the cafe, and riders enjoyed their famous cornetto and tasty coffee during the tour.

Dolce Arte also shares our vision of strong community values, supporting the neighborhood in any way they can, and embodies the creative entrepreneurial spirit that we foster and support in our service area.

Congratulations to the employees of Dolce Arte as well as Stephanie and Brittany on this honor!

Image credit: Anne Evans