Giuseppe Safina, son of Giovanni Safina, responded, very nicely, to a recent OnMilwaukee.com story regarding his family's plans for Old World Third Street in downtown Milwaukee.

Following is his entire e-mail:

In regards to your article today, I am able to confirm some of the speculation.

The Safina Family Owns the 1033 Building between the Spice House and Mader's. We have decided to move forward with a restaurant/lounge on the first floor, a commercial business on the second, following with 1,400-plus -q. ft. apartments on the third, fourth and fifth floors.

There are three things we can comment on for sure, it will not be Giovanni's restaurant. I can also confirm that this will not be another steak house. Lastly, Rosa Safina is not in any way involved in the purchase of the building or the restaurant.

The name, menu and style at 1033 will remain a surprise, but I can say that it may possibly feature a few of Giovanni's favorites as specials. And you can expect to see the same high standard in food and service that Giovanni's provided without the white tablecloth atmosphere.

Will Giovanni's ever be resurrected? That, too, remains to be seen....

Thank you in advance for posting my reply, and of course, for your constant support of local businesses.

-Giuseppe Safina

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee.com for continuing developments.