Las Cazuelas Chilaquiles & Taco Bar is looking to bring its saucy brunch game to the North Shore. The West Allis chilaquiles specialist has filed plans for a second location in Fox Point, targeting the longtime José’s Blue Sombrero space and eyeing a dining room that would dwarf its original storefront.
As reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal, the owners want to convert the former José’s Blue Sombrero restaurant into a new home for Las Cazuelas’ menu. According to the Business Journal, the Fox Point spot clocks in at more than twice the size of the West Allis shop, which lists its address and hours on the restaurant’s website. The original location has built a steady following around its house-made sauces and molcajete tacos, a setup the larger space would be positioned to scale up.
Former Tenant Left Turnkey Restaurant Space
José’s Blue Sombrero shut down its Fox Point dining room last fall, leaving the property at 8617 N. Port Washington Road sitting empty, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Village records show that José’s held a Class B liquor license tied to the address, a detail that highlights the size of the operation and the existing restaurant build-out waiting for a new tenant.
What Diners Could See
If the plan gets the green light, the Fox Point location would let Las Cazuelas seat more guests and stretch beyond the tighter footprint in West Allis. The Milwaukee Business Journal also notes that Las Cazuelas serves its chilaquiles with seven different sauce options, a signature move that a bigger dining room could showcase more easily.
The project still needs local signoff, including licensing and build-out permits from the Village of Fox Point. Village records show elected officials routinely handle liquor-license decisions for restaurants along N. Port Washington Road. For now, the owners have not floated an opening date while the planning and approval process plays out.
