By Gina B.

If you happen to see Dawn and Wilbur Milhouse in a social setting, you will witness a couple in their element. Wilbur will be calmly sipping a signature cocktail, confidently admiring his beautiful wife, “Lady Milhouse,” who is likely causing a commotion on the dance floor, singing along with the band, while effortlessly balancing a glass of champagne.

You might hear Dawn refer to her husband as Mr. Milhouse, a term that dates back to their meeting in 2009, when she was the General Manager of the now defunct Hyde Park restaurant Park 52, and he was a patron. If you ask the couple to tell the story of how they met, a playful banter will ensue, where they debate about which one tells the “real” story.

The Milhouses agree that they met when Wilbur, President, and CEO of Milhouse Engineering and Construction, was a regular patron of Park 52.

When they met, Dawn “couldn’t stand” Wilbur. He was “so arrogant,” she recalls – an assertion that Wilbur emphatically denies.

One of Wilbur’s early memories of Dawn was during a visit to the restaurant when he’d parked his convertible car, with the top down. The day began as beautiful and sunny, but abruptly started to rain. Wilbur noticed that his interior was getting wet, due to the lack of attention by the valet parker. He was going to handle the situation, but Dawn quickly jumped in to prevent his car from getting soaked.

They talked more as they got to know each other better. When Wilbur asserted that Gibson’s was his favorite restaurant, she insisted that he call the restaurant to inform them that he wouldn’t be back. His new favorite would be Park 52. He subsequently visited the restaurant by himself, or with large groups, specifically requesting Dawn’s service and attention.

Photo credit: Parrish Lewis

They toyed with each other for months before becoming a couple. It was just as well because neither of them was looking for a relationship. Wilbur was dating here and there but primarily focused on running his company and raising his children. Dawn was very busy, between managing the restaurant and tending to her two teenage daughters. Her spiritual relationship was very important to her. “I wanted to be able to receive what God had for me,” she said, “so I was on a deep journey. I wasn’t dating at the time. I wasn’t even looking to date, and in fact, I was celibate when I met Wilbur.”

One day in the restaurant, Wilbur looked at Dawn and it finally hit him. He told her: “I’ve been sleeping on you,” and decided to pursue what he had been missing out on – the woman who had been right in front of him.

They went on their first “real” date, and their courtship progressed quickly from there. As Dawn thought about how she would manage their relationship, she received advice from an unlikely source. “Wilbur always sent me flowers whenever he would travel, and during one of his trips, I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers and on the back of the card, it said ‘Water daily.’ It was a simple instruction, but I believe it was God speaking to me, and I understood how I was going to manage our relationship. I was going to water it daily.”

The Milhouses were married the following year in 2010, wearing jeans in an informal ceremony. Three years later they opened M Vie Restaurant, which rose to popularity and closed in 2016, in preparation for the next chapter.
Of course, marriage isn’t easy. Especially a marriage between two very social entrepreneurs and a blended family. So what’s the secret to their success?

“I think we understand each other,” explained Wilbur. “I know Dawn very well, and I know the good, the bad and the ugly. Fortunately, there’s more good than bad and ugly.”

“Wilbur is a good person,” Dawn piped in, “and I see the God in him. He’s not perfect. None of us are perfect, but I know his intentions and what a truly good man he is. We’re in this together.”

Although the couple tells different stories of the early days in their relationship, they firmly agree that they’re in it for the long haul.

“If you bet against us, you’re losing,” said Dawn. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Milhouse?”
“That’s exactly right!”

Gina B. is a podcaster, comedy writer, film producer, journalist and owner of Naturals by Gina B. She can also be found on social media @ginaspot, @naturalsbyginab.and www.iamginab.com