Dec. 24, 2018 – West Bend, WI – There’s a note on the front door of Grasshopper Restaurant in downtown West Bend announcing the business is “permanently closed.”
Stefanie Ulma, owner of Grasshopper Restaurant, 241 N. Main St., purchased the building with her father Al Ulma in June 2009.
An article in Comings & Goings, a publication designed to promote the Downtown West Bend Business District, read:
Al Ulma and his daughter Stefanie are the new owners of the building on the southeast corner of Main and Cedar Streets. The Ulma’s are planning a facelift for the shops 237, 241 and 243 N. Main Street. The Ulma’s have also been approved for a Combination Class B liquor license however they’ve yet to disclose what business they’ll open. The license was taken out under the name Grasshopper & Café.
Grasshopper opened in March 2010. It started as a cozy place to get high-quality food for breakfast and lunch in an atmosphere that was uber trendy with an old school Audrey Hepburn/Frank Sinatra flare. Since then it’s grown and morphed to a relaxed indoor library setting with a long bar yet the excellent food remains.
“I’m excited to do something else for West Bend that’s different than just this restaurant,” said Ulma. “One thing that will stay the same will be delivering to the customer the best of the best. It’s never been about the money it’s been about giving a great product to the people.”
More information on Grasshopper Restaurant athttp://eatatgrasshopper.com/
Below is an article when the location was in flux in May 2009.
SALE OF ST. SOMEWHERE TURNED OVER TO COLDWELL BANKER..
Coldwell Banker real estate agent Wendy Coulter is now marketing St. Somewhere Café, which had been for sale by owner since last summer. Coulter took over the account at 243 N. Main in March. The business and equipment are priced at $79,900.
St. Somewhere Café owner John Dunton leases space in the building now owned by Ulma Investments LLC which purchased 237, 241 and 243 N. Main Street on March 31, 2009 for $470,000.
Coulter nor Dunton commented on a recent, May 4 decision by the West Bend Licensing Board which approved a reserve combination Class B liquor license for Ulma Investments LLC, Grasshopper & Café for 243 and 241 N. Main. The license comes with a Proof of Promise stipulation, which means the owner of the property “has to show they have the legal rights to the building.”
Dunton’s lease expires February 2010. Ruth-Anne’s Gourmet Market has already confirmed they are moving out of 241 N. Main and relocating to a larger storefront at 136 N. Main.
Coulter has had some slight interest in the business the past few months. Dunton is selling the business so he can retire.
