From One Local Family to Another: The Legacy of Daily Dose Lives On

Some stories feel bigger than business. Some feel bigger than a restaurant. This is one of those stories. After 18 unforgettable years, The Daily Dose Café, a place that has served breakfast, comfort, connection, and community on the corner of 60th Street and 40th Avenue, has officially entered a new chapter.


Founder and longtime owner Jennifer Capponi has passed the torch to Riki Tagliapietra and Jandel Tagliapietra, the husband-and-wife team behind Cut Stone Handcrafted Italian. While the agreement is in place, Riki and Jandel will officially take over in April, giving Jennifer one final month and a half to soak in these last moments at the helm of the Daily Dose.

The Decision To Sell

If you know Kenosha, you know this isn’t just a sale. It’s a moment in our city’s hospitality history. Jennifer made one thing clear to me immediately: if the right local buyer hadn’t come along, she simply wouldn’t have sold. “I would wait as long as it would take to find the right people,” she told me.

She never imagined it would happen as quickly as it did. What began as a subtle feeling of exhaustion a couple of years ago turned into a firm decision about six months back. After nearly two decades of early mornings, late nights, recipe creation, and pouring herself into every detail of the café, she knew it was time to at least consider what life beyond ownership might look like.


But this wasn’t about walking away. It was about protecting what she built.

“The hardest part,” she shared, “was realizing how much of myself and my identity were tied up in the restaurant. For 18 years, it’s been more than just a business. It’s been my home, my dream, and my connection to so many people. Stepping away means letting go of a huge piece of my heart.”


When Riki and Jandel sat down with her for the first time, something happened that gave her peace. “The very first thing they focused on was my well-being,” she said. “They expressed real care, not just for the business, but for me. They didn’t want to see one of their favorite places to eat fall into the wrong hands or close its doors. That genuine concern reassured me that they were the ones.”
Jennifer’s final day leading Daily Dose will be Saturday, March 28. She’s planning something fun to celebrate — though she says she’s still figuring out exactly what that will look like. So, stay tuned.


Daily Dose didn’t just happen by accident. Jennifer’s dream started long before the doors opened.

“Back in the day,” she laughed, “probably too young to do this by myself, I would take the bus downtown. I loved sitting at the counters at Mayor Drug and Woolworth. I’d eat French fries and drink a soda and just people watch.”

That love of gathering places became her calling.

“The Daily Dose is a bridge for so many,” she said. “Having a safe place for people from all walks of life to come to has made me proud. I hope everyone felt seen and accepted. I hope I brought joy and memories in addition to filling their bellies with delicious food made with love.”

If there was one moment that defined what Daily Dose means to Kenosha, it came during COVID. At the same time the shutdown hit, 60th Street and 40th Avenue were under construction. The roads were torn up. Sidewalks gone. Mud everywhere.

“And people still came,” she said. “They were driving in the mud, walking blocks just to support us. Customers were leaving money to help support our employees. Their concern for our well-being was overwhelming. You just don’t see that everywhere,  but in our city, you do.”

That moment wasn’t about sales. It was about community showing up for community.

And that spirit is exactly what Riki and Jandel are committed to protecting, beginning in April when they officially step into ownership.


The Decision To Buy

Before Cut Stone Handcrafted Italian became one of Kenosha’s favorite pizza destinations, it started as a fire truck, a bold, ambitious concept that reflected who they are: creative, hardworking, and deeply rooted in hospitality. “We’ve both been in the local hospitality business most of our lives,” they told me. “We’ve learned from successes and failures while growing Cut Stone. We’ve figured out what we want to be and what we absolutely do not want to be.”


Cut Stone was built on scratch-made quality, thoughtful service, and a commitment to being uniquely Kenosha. So, when the opportunity to purchase Daily Dose became real, it wasn’t about expansion for the sake of growth. It was about alignment.

“Cut Stone and Daily Dose may not serve the same style of food,” they explained, “but they both operate on the same philosophy of quality, community, and service.”

They aren’t just the new owners; they’ve been loyal customers for years.

“Keeping the Daily Dose spirit alive is our number one motivator,” they said. “Maybe we’re even a bit selfishly committed to offering the flavors and environment we’ve loved for 18 years alongside all the other regular guests.”

Certain staples are non-negotiable. Awesome Beef? Untouchable. Biscuits & Gravy? Untouchable.


They do plan to reduce the menu temporarily as they settle in and streamline operations once they officially take over, while adding rewards programs and updated online ordering. But culturally? “The core identity of the Dose revolves around quality and community,” they said. “No matter what growth is on the horizon, those core values will drive every decision.” This isn’t a takeover. “This isn’t just some real estate deal,” they told me. “This is an opportunity for Jen to enjoy some hard-earned time with her family and for us to keep the legacy she built alive and growing for many more years to come.”

And that word — LEGACY — matters.

Locally Owned Restaurants

As Kenosha continues to grow as a destination city, independent restaurants like Daily Dose and Cut Stone play a huge role in shaping how visitors experience our community. Riki and Jandel travel frequently for hockey, and they’ve seen firsthand how many similarly sized cities feel identical.

“The same chain restaurants. The same boring retail. Nothing we haven’t seen before,” they said. “Kenosha is different. Our density of unique, locally owned businesses is rare. It’s what keeps people coming back for something they can’t get anywhere else.”

That difference fuels tourism. Visitors don’t just come for the lakefront, the festivals, or the events. They come for places with stories. Places with passion for industry. Places they can’t find back home.

“Every regular starts as a first-time visitor. We want to be your place. The place you bring visiting family and friends. The place that becomes part of your story.”


- Riki and Jandel

With two restaurants soon under their leadership, they see opportunity for collaboration a Daily Dose–inspired Cut Stone pizza, patio events featuring the fire truck, creative crossovers that celebrate both brands while keeping them separate.

Separate identities. Shared spirit.


As Riki & Jandel prepare to step into ownership in April, their focus isn’t on rapid change, it’s on making sure Daily Dose customers still feel at home with the same level of quality and community they expect and for Cut Stone customers to discover their new favorite lunch spot.


For now, though, the spotlight remains where it belongs, on Jennifer and this final stretch of her incredible 18-year run.

For Jennifer, walking into Daily Dose now is emotional, but it’s also filled with pride.

“I am so darn proud of what this place has become,” she said. “It’s everything I ever dreamed of and more.” She’ll miss the connection most. The daily conversations. The lattes. The Mardi Gras traditions. The day her staff and customers surprised her with an accordion for her birthday. But she leaves knowing the restaurant is in hands that understand what it means to Kenosha. “I want to catch my breath,” she said. “I want to become present in this life, not just exist.”

This transition didn’t happen by accident. It happened intentionally. Thoughtfully. Locally. Three restaurateurs. One shared belief in community. One historic passing of the torch. In a time when beloved restaurants often disappear or get absorbed into something unrecognizable, Kenosha gets something different.

The Daily Dose isn’t closing. It’s continuing.

And as this new chapter begins, first with celebrating Jennifer through March 28, and then welcoming Riki and Jandel in April, one thing feels certain:

The legend of The Daily Dose will live on, through Riki and Jandel, through collaboration, through quality, through community.

And for Kenosha residents and visitors alike, that’s not just good news.

That’s something worth celebrating.

Congrats to Jennifer & Tommy Capponi and Riki & Jandel Tagliapietra on this remarkable accomplishment.

A personal note from Donny Stancato:

I want to close this on a personal note. I’ve enjoyed Daily Dose for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been a fan of Cut Stone from the beginning. Over the years, I’ve worked with Jennifer and Riki on numerous projects and interviews throughout my career, so this moment feels personal to me. I’m truly happy for all of them and honored they trusted me to help share this story. After more than 20 years of interviewing, building relationships, and connecting businesses to the community, moments like this remind me why I do what I do. This isn’t just about a changing of hands. It’s about trust, legacy, and keeping things local. Jennifer, thank you for everything you’ve given to Kenosha. I wish you peace and joy in this next chapter. Riki and Jandel, thank you for continuing to invest in our community. Taking on two beloved restaurants is no small task, and I wish you continued success as you carry this legacy forward. Kenosha is special because of people like this. I’m grateful to help tell these kinds of stories, and I’ll always be rooting for this community.

– Donny Stancato –

Both restaurants will continue operating at their respective addresses once the torch has been passed:

The Daily Dose Café: 6010 40th Avenue

Cut Stone: 5925 6th Avenue A