Story and photos by Laura Richard 
David Storm would be very proud of his children. On November 10, 2006 from 5 to 10 pm, his second oldest, Angie, is honoring his memory with a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the grand opening of her new restaurant, Hotch-A-Do, an organic bistro located at 1813 E. Kenilworth.
In 1983, at the age of 37, David Storm was diagnosed with leukemia. His doctors aggressively attacked the blood and bone marrow cancer with a bone marrow transplant, radiation and chemotherapy. After a year of treatment, his cancer was in remission.
David went on to lead a highly productive life as a husband, father of five and vice president of Harley Davidson. He was the type of man that people were drawn to: charismatic, intelligent and respected. His family was very important to him and he continually charmed them and others with his sparkling sense of humor. He became active with the Wisconsin Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, serving on their board. Life was great.
Fast forward 15 years. David started to have health problems again, although, it was not his cancer that was causing his pain. For two years, he went through test after test, only to come up empty handed. In the fall of 2000, the doctors realized that he had Hepatitis C. Seventeen years earlier, as part of his treatment for leukemia, he had received a blood transfusion, at a time when there was not awareness of the importance of testing blood for diseases.
He was placed on a waiting list for a new liver. In the summer of 2001, his wish came true and he received a liver transplant. For three months, there was hope for a successful recovery. Then on October 3, 2001, his family received a fateful call from the hospital and later that day he passed on. But his memory and love are alive and strong.
Hotch-A-Do is overflowing with family love. The fabulous lighting and wood working was designed by Angies brother Ted. Her sister Jamie designed the menu. Another brother, Tim, designed the website and brother Will is one of the managers.
And all the family contributed to the delicious delights on the menu. Secret family recipes are the key to the success of the fare. The menu includes such mouth-watering treats as cheesy potatoes (which are present at every family event), her mom Carols famous spaghetti sauce, and Angies taco dip.
When Angie saw that the old laundromat on the corner of Oakland and Kenilworth was up for grabs, she immediately knew she wanted to have it. Already owning one successful restaurant (Erbert & Gerberts Subs & Clubs), she knew that she wanted another one, but wasnt sure what kind.
I didnt just want a bar and I didnt just want a bar/restaurant. I wanted to create a location that was really comfortable, commented Angie.
The next step was to decide what to serve. One night as she and a friend were eating pizza at her house, her friend asked her where she got the pizza from. Angie confessed that she had made it, and as her friend raved about how great it was, the idea of building a restaurant based on family recipes was born.
The decision to create an organic bistro came from her beliefs. I am concerned about antibiotics and growth hormones in foods and think people should have healthy alternatives. The quality of life for animals is better and they deserve it. It is also the best thing to do for the environment and the quality of taste in the food is much greater.
Things you definitely should know about Hotch-A-Do: they offer FREE wireless internet access, 15 varieties of beer, 18 varieties of wine, and outdoor seating, although it might be a little cold for that right now. They are open Monday thru Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm and on Sundays from 8 am to 3 pm.
A great time to check out Hotch- A-Do is on Friday, November 10 from 5 to 10 pm for the grand opening fundraiser to benefit the Wisconsin Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Riverwest Currents online edition – November, 2006