WAUWATOSA, Wis. — This past weekend staff members of Cafe Hollander were preparing to open the restaurant for Sunday, but were keeping an eye on the significant rain that has swept through the area.
By the time the more intense rains came, the Menomonee River was rising to levels never seen before, flooding the basement kitchen of Cafe Hollander and flooding other storefronts in the Wauwatosa business improvement district.
Cafe Hollander owner and Lowlands Group founder and CEO Eric Wagner says the majority of the kitchen is lost.
“Our lower level faces the Menomonee River and we have a door that leads right onto the gangway back there that is now gone actually due to the strong current ripping it away from the building. We believe that most of the water came in through that door,” said Wagner.
Executive Director of the Wauwatosa Business Improvement District Maria Pano says that a majority of the businesses in the district did not have any flood insurance to pay for the damages.
“I can tell you that as the business improvement district, this is not something we’ve ever prepared for. However the way Wauwatosa always seems to go is a together we rise mentality and we all work together,” said Pano. “So what’s really been cool about this even though people weren’t necessarily prepared for this flooding, is that we’re all working together to make everything back to the way it was.”
Wagner says that due to the damage that’s been done to the kitchen at Cafe Hollander in Wauwatosa, it’s going to take weeks before he’s able to reopen the restaurant.
“It’s going to take about six weeks for us to get back on track,” said Wagner. “We’re targeting September 28th for a full reopening, but we’re hoping to participate in Tosa Fest which is September 6th with just our bar.”
Those looking to get at the Cafe Hollander will have to try next door at Buckatabon Tavern and Supper Club.
Wagner expects repairs will cost around $1-million dollars.
Pano says she’s set up a fundraiser for people to donate money to help other businesses in the business improvement district.
“We don’t have a specific dollar amount because we still don’t know what the cost to replace everything is going to be,” said Pano. “We do hope that we can help these businesses rebuild so that we can get back to where we were just a week ago.”
Governor Tony Evers visited Wauwatosa on Monday to survey and damage in the village and has since issued a State of Emergency and has formally requested the Federal government for FEMA support with damage that has impacted communities across Southeast Wisconsin.
