After making over the Washington Avenue space that was formerly home to AT JJ’s – which closed in August after three years, due to COVID – in Cedarburg, the Homayouni Group has announced it will open the Union House Public House and Bakeshop at W62N559 Washington Ave., on Friday.
Union House is named for one of the early names of the 1883 building it occupies, J. C. Kuhefuss Union House Hotel.
The cocktail-focused bar will be open 4-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 4-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fortunately, the stunning vintage Blatz sign above the entrance still glows red.
The kitchen is expected to be open within the next month, offering small plates, charcuterie boards and other shareable dishes.
“Our hope is to create a comfortable environment with a city vibe where people can come and enjoy delicious quick foods and high-end cocktails with friends” said Chris Homayouni, managing partner, in a statement.
Homayouni has worked at Milwaukee restaurants like Don's Diner and Movida.
“We’re excited to bring something new to Cedarburg, a town that prides itself on unique stores and establishments. Our combination of great cocktails and fun, sharable foods will be a great addition.”
Union House will offer some of its cocktails on tap, including a sangria and a Union House Bloody Mary.
Other cocktails on a seasonally changing list will include drinks made with Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam, Sipsmith Gin, El Tesoro Tequila, and Haku Japanese Vodka.
Union House Cedarburg will also have a fully-stocked bar, as well as selections of wine and beer.
A takeout cookie window is already up and running and sells fresh-baked cookies on weekends: Fridays-Saturdays, noon-8 p.m., and Sundays, noon until 6.
In addition to chocolate chip, the window sells cranberry oatmeal walnut and peanut butter cookies, and plans to add other baked goods soon.
During the bar’s opening weekend, get a free chocolate chip cookie with each tap cocktail from 4 until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
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