The Art of Joy, a social house and mercantile, has opened in Cedarburg. The owners aim to bring joy and connection to the city.

Lydia Morrell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
Co-owners Stephanie Hayes and Mary Creten pose for a portrait in front of the "Joyride Camper" at the Art of Joy, their new art mercantile and social house, on July 17, 2022. They opened outdoors June 16, and hope to open indoors in September.
Co-owners Stephanie Hayes and Mary Creten pose for a portrait in front of the "Joyride Camper" at the Art of Joy, their new art mercantile and social house, on July 17, 2022. They opened outdoors June 16, and hope to open indoors in September.

In idyllic downtown Cedarburg, families and friends lounged by the creek in the lazy Sunday sun at the Art of Joy, a new art and social house.

Cedarburg residents and tourists bought locally sourced drinks and appetizers at the “Joyride Camper” and perused local art at a pop-up table in the outdoor yard. The Art of Joy opened outdoor serving and art sales June 16, and is aiming to open indoors in September.

The restaurant and mercantile offers drinks, appetizers and local art for a distinctly Cedarburg experience at W63 N664 Washington Ave. It is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

“It’s not a paint and sip place, or an art store. It’s about living your life artfully and joyously and how to curate and build and develop a happy life,” said co-owner Stephanie Hayes. “Building a place where authentic human connection is a big part of it.“

Hayes and co-owner Mary Creten had planned to open both indoors and outdoors in June, but their plans went awry as the state permit process took more time than expected. Instead of waiting for approvals, the two bought a camper and remodeled it to serve drinks and snacks outdoors.

Currently, customers can order “picnic boxes” of cheeses, crackers and other toppings from the camper. The drink menu includes wines, beers and cocktails, but differs from the average bar in one significant way: For every cocktail, there is a nonalcoholic version.

“There’s a lot of reasons why us in our life have needed to have nonalcoholic drinks, and we know a lot of people we love and care about in our community have needed that, too,” Hayes said.

Once remodeling is complete, Creten said, there will be a bar, kitchens and seating on the first floor, along with more seating on the second floor, specifically aimed at families with children. The Art of Joy has about 16 additional employees and will seat about 34 people inside, with more if standing, Hayes said.

There is an outdoor stage for musicians, and the yard and pavilion are available for events, including weddings, private parties and other functions. Once the building is completed, they plan to rent the second floor for events, as well.

Art and merchandise will be scattered throughout the building. Currently, the shop sells earrings, shirts and pennants at a table outside, and plans to grow the selection as the owners find artists who are local and compatible with their mission.

A table displays handmade earrings outside the Art of Joy in Cedarburg on July 17, 2022. The Art of Joy opened outdoors in June.
A table displays handmade earrings outside the Art of Joy in Cedarburg on July 17, 2022. The Art of Joy opened outdoors in June.

Creating a space for community

Hayes and Creten met through their husbands and became fast friends about five years ago. They started planning the Art of Joy during the pandemic.

Hayes grew up in Mequon and did arts and historic programming as the executive director of the Cedarburg Cultural Center for about eight years. Creten was an actuary in Colorado before moving to Cedarburg.

The two women brought on head chef Dan Lueth, who founded Farmstead steakhouse in Cedarburg and spent nearly 20 years in the food industry.

“I started washing dishes and ended up owning the Farmstead,” Lueth said. “That took 17 years, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ve done all I can.’”

Lueth decided to get back into the business after Hayes and Creten approached him with their plan and slowly persuaded him to come aboard as head chef. When the indoor restaurant opens, Lueth said he plans to get creative with the Wisconsin-sourced menu.

“I’d like to do the beet purees, the citrus-cured salmon,” Lueth said. “The things we originally started out wanting to do, but weren’t able to do outdoors.”

The building is about 150 years old and carries a history of the entrepreneurial spirit that Hayes and Creten wanted to emulate. Longtime entrepreneur Marline McGrew ran Marline’s Garden Goodies out of the location before retiring in 2021, after 50 years operating businesses in Cedarburg and the surrounding area.

Hayes has three children younger than 9, and Creten has two teenage boys. Creten said their goal was to create a space for everyone that wouldn’t exclude families with children or people who don’t want to drink alcohol.

“Cedarburg is already such a wonderful, special place,” Creten said. “So having a piece of joy, a joy-themed hangout, is what we really wanted to do.”

Lydia Morrell can be reached at 320-444-2339 or lmorrell@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @lydia_morrell. 

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Social house Art of Joy opens in downtown Cedarburg