Almost 20 food-based businesses were displaced by the fire at Oak Creek's Common Cookhouse. What's next for them?

Nearly 20 food-based businesses in Oak Creek have been displaced by a June fire at The Common Cookhouse in Oak Creek.

The fire ravaged the building and left tenants picking up the pieces and wondering "what's next?"

There are no easy answers. Some have a path forward, others still aren't sure. But all are thankful for the outpouring of support.

It's unclear what caused the fire, which broke out June 22, as it remains under investigation. What is clear is that for the culinary creatives who used the Cookhouse, which opened in 2020, it's no longer business as usual.

For starters, all 18 of them will need to relocate.

Dillon Knight of Trouble Makers Cocina was at the Common Cookhouse when the fire broke out.

Knight said he and his partner were in the kitchen area grilling up carne asada when the fire alarm sounded. Knight’s partner went to check and saw smoke coming from the front facade of the building.

“(We have) no clue what caused it,” Knight said. “It was not caused by us in the kitchen.”

Knight said he lost more than 5,000 egg rolls he had prepared for Strawberry Fest in Cedarburg. He also lost 120 pounds of shrimp and a lot of supplies.

Despite the losses, Knight said Trouble Makers is still making food.

“We are operating and working with the local health department in Oak Creek as we find a new commercial kitchen,” he said. “We really haven’t missed a beat. We’ve been one of the luckier businesses.”

Knight said he is in talks and applying with Vivere Italian Restaurant, which neighbors the Cookhouse, as a potential space to work.

“I want to thank everyone for the support the last few weeks,” he said. “We certainly have felt it. Many businesses in surrounding areas have reached out, which shows how close knit the restaurant community really is.”

He specifically thanked Cathy Sederberg, the Common Cookhouse owner, for building a space where “people from the same industry can work together and share stories.”

“We’re a family,” he said.

Knight only had to cancel one event after the fire. Upcoming events include the Milwaukee Night Market on July 13 and a five-course dinner with 1840 Brewing Co. on July 19.

Food trucks and other businesses are finding new homes

Jennifer Weiss of Weiss Meats said she is heartbroken and overwhelmed by what comes next but wanted her customers to know one thing: “We’re definitely not going to close,” she said. “We’re looking at it as a bump in the road.”

Weiss, who worked out of the Cookhouse for about a year, said sausage production has been temporarily suspended because of the fire.

“It’s not as easy as finding a new space, because you’re dealing with licensing and permits, especially when you’re dealing with fresh meat,” she said.

A few tours of other locations haven’t turned up a new spot for Weiss Meats, and Weiss is still debating whether she should focus on a temporary location just to get up and running or spend more time searching for a permanent new home.

Weiss said she lost her grinder, packaging, scale and other supplies, along with a freezer full of sausage inventory. She encouraged people to reach out with questions.

“Still keep us in mind; we’re going to find a solution sooner than later,” she said.

Weiss Meats is based in Muskego, and Weiss said she’d love to stay in the area. She is considering searching for a small, affordable retail space.

The Oak Creek Farmers Market held a special lemonade stand to help out both Weiss and Christina Mike of Devour Gluten Free, another business affected by the fire.

“Taking money is quite a humbling experience,” Weiss said.

“Cathy (Sederberg) has been unbelievably wonderful to work with, a pleasure,” she said. “She’s always been incredibly accessible. That is a huge loss to us, to not have her as our mother hen.”

Mike is still figuring out the next steps for her business.

"This is a sad loss for so many food makers that shared the space," Mike said in a statement on Facebook. "I will figure out a way to come back. I love creating these products for you.”

Other tenant businesses, like the Rose Mob Grill food truck, urged support for those affected by the fire. Rose Mob Grill is co-owned by father and daughter Lou and Brittany Rosales. Sederberg is Brittany Rosales' mother.

“We have been so fortunate to have several members of our community lend a hand, so we expect to be back at events this weekend,” the post said. “Much love.”

Katy Klinnert used the Cookhouse for her business, Katy’s Cooking Tonight.

Klinnert lost everything related to her business in the fire. The morning of the fire she dropped a few things off at the Cookhouse. Eight hours later she returned, sobbing and holding Daniela Varela of Ruby’s Bagels who also called the Cookhouse home.

She said the time since the fire have been the worst days of her life, "other than when my dad died."

Part of the Common Cookhouse since winter 2020, Klinnert said her business had been thriving.

Originally, Klinnert went to people’s homes to cook dinners, but after the coronavirus pandemic she adjusted her business model while still visiting homes of frontline workers to make sure they had meals ready when they got home.

Klinnert said she found a temporary restaurant in Bay View but couldn’t get the proper permitting from Milwaukee.

“They said three weeks to six months is normal,” she said. “I’m out of business; I get this is a process but I have no income until this is granted.”

Since then she received the blessing of a church, St. Stephen in Oak Creek, offering their space. She received the needed permits from the city and, at least for now, she can get up and running again.

Unlike some businesses, which also had food trucks, Klinnert didn’t have anything left to work from.

“I would say we lost all ability to work,” she said. “We lost every piece of equipment we had.”

Much of her equipment was replaced by community members who bought her new items off an Amazon wish list.

“There’s nothing left on (the list),” Klinnert said. “Nothing. I’m blown away.”

Ruby's Bagels still baking up a plan

Ruby’s Bagels owner Daniela Varela shared a few updates for her business, which is temporarily closed after the fire, with her thousands of Facebook followers. She said many spaces have offered to host her, but moving her bagel operation is harder than it might seem.

“I am waiting on my insurance to get back to me because our precious baby (our mixer) is probably gone and so is my fridge where we keep the bagels overnight and all of our cream cheese goodness,” the post said. “I am still in disbelief and I’m really trying so hard to figure it out and be strong for my team.”

“The outpouring of support from past, current, and prospective Cookhouse members as well as various suppliers and business associates has been humbling to say the least,” a post on the Common Cookhouse Facebook page said. “They are all so supportive of one another and hopefully, through this network, our members will find solutions quickly to help them continue operations as we explore what comes next for Common Cookhouse.”

The post said the Cookhouse was home to 18 food-based businesses (and had two more interested). They all will need to relocate for the time being. The posting thanked the Oak Creek health inspector for helping “transition these members” along with first responders who “arrived within minutes of our call.”

“They are true professionals and did an excellent job of calling in and utilizing the right resources to mitigate as much damage as possible and safeguard the buildings and residents around us."

Mr. Greens trying to get going again

Thomas Green of Mr. Greens said his was the first food truck and catering company contracted out into the Common Cookhouse.

“My business is maintaining right now only due to savings and proper budgeting,” Green said. “Me and my family are keeping our head held high and plan to do what we do best: turn our obstacles into monuments of victory.”

Green is working to get a new base kitchen location (and proper licensing) so he can get back to work. Until then, he is not operating his food truck business.

Green does still have plans to work the Elkhorn Ribfest lasting from July 13-17.

“Walworth County has taken the task of assisting us in temporary license that we may fulfill our major event,” he said. “I would like to thank Larry Gaffey for helping us continue to bring in revenue and defend our title at Elkhorn Ribfest in the midst of this unfortunate situation.”

All affected businesses

Numerous GoFundMe pages and other fundraisers have been started to support these businesses displaced by the fire — including supporting the Common Cookhouse itself.

• Bleu Sheep

• Clarke Street Sausage

• DEVOUR Gluten Free

• Hop Heads Hospitality & Events

• Jaliscos

• Katy’s Cooking Tonight

• Kone Ice of NE Milwaukee

• Trouble Makers Cocina

• Mr. Greens

• Nadi Plates

• Ox Tail Noodle House

• Rose Mob Hospitality

• P Licious Roc Sauce

• Ruby’s Bagels

• Sweet Smoke BBQ

• Tacos and Pastas

• Weiss Meats

• Whimsery Twist Treatery

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Common Cookhouse receives 'outpouring of support' after fire