Destroyed by fire in 2020, The Cheel restaurant in Thiensville receives $250K state grant to rebuild

Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
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The Cheel restaurant, which was destroyed by a fire in November of 2020 received a state grant of $250,000 to help with its rebuilding efforts.
The Cheel restaurant, which was destroyed by a fire in November of 2020 received a state grant of $250,000 to help with its rebuilding efforts.

When The Cheel, a popular Nepalese restaurant in Thiensville, was destroyed by a fire on Nov. 8, 2020, the owner and chef Barkha Limbu Daily vowed to rebuild the restaurant.

It hasn't happened yet, but plans are now on track to continue rebuilding thanks to a $250,000 boost from the state.

The Cheel was just awarded a $250,000 Community Development Investment grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help rebuild its restaurant, according to a news release from the WEDC.

Reconstruction plans for the new restaurant include an expanded dining room, a patio, event space and an area for live music.

The Cheel, 105 S. Main St., opened in 2014 and served farm-to-table Nepalese cuisine, which attracted people from across the state, according to the release.

The restaurant, which utilized local ingredients from local farmers, was housed in a 130-year-old Queen Anne building which Thiensville Village Administrator Colleen Landisch-Hansen said was a prominent feature on Main Street.

“The Cheel’s previous building was a historic building with its own personality, and we’re hoping this reconstruction will bring that personality back,” Landisch-Hansen said. “We’re happy to see The Cheel rise from the ashes.”

The Cheel restaurant was destroyed by a fire in 2020. It received a $250,000 grant from the state to help rebuild.
The Cheel restaurant was destroyed by a fire in 2020. It received a $250,000 grant from the state to help rebuild.

“WEDC is committed to collaborating with communities throughout Wisconsin to invest in revitalizing their main streets and support local businesses,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development organization. “This project will not only restore a beloved community institution but support further economic growth and development.”

The fire started on the second floor of the building while the business was closed. It destroyed the restaurant and an apartment above it. No one was injured, and the fire was ruled accidental.

Daily founded The Cheel because she saw there were almost no places in Wisconsin to experience Nepalese cuisine. She moved from Nepal to Wisconsin in 2003, according to the release.

“Things are lining up, the sun is shining, the team is excited, and I am excited to bring Nepalese food back to the community and continue to give back,” Daily said. “We could not do this without WEDC. We are lucky to have an organization that supports small, and woman-owned businesses in this state.”

WEDC’s Community Development Investment Grant Program supports community development and redevelopment efforts, primarily in downtown areas.

From the program’s inception in 2013 through March 2022, WEDC has awarded nearly $34.8 million in CDI Grants to 166 communities for projects expected to generate more than $517 million in capital investments statewide.

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Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Cheel restaurant in Thiensville gets $250K state grant to rebuild