Bass Bay Brewhouse, the family-owned Muskego restaurant gutted by a December fire, is mapping out a no-frills comeback: the owners plan to open a beer garden on the mostly intact grounds while the main building gets rebuilt. Demolition crews are already tearing into the wreckage, but several outdoor features survived the blaze, giving the family a way to welcome people back before a full reconstruction is complete.
Fire, loss and local support
The Dec. 12 fire left the restaurant and the attached Aud Mar Banquet Hall a total loss, forcing the family out of their home and drawing a multi-department firefighting response, as reported by FOX6. Investigators have not identified a cause. Coverage noted that the community quickly rallied with support for employees and the family. The lakeside spot has been a fixture since the Oschmann family took it over and restored the Aud-Mar, with OnMilwaukee tracing that chapter back to a 2016 reopening.
Owner's plan for a beer garden
Owner Ryan Oschmann told TMJ4 that the idea for a beer garden came once demolition began and it became clear that much of the outdoor setup survived. “The gazebo, the outside bar area, the outside grounds are 100 percent intact,” he said. Muskego has already approved a liquor license and permissions for a beer garden that the report said could host as many as 500 people. There is no firm public opening date yet, but the owners say they are aiming for early June.
Permits and prior outdoor events
City records show Bass Bay's operators have previously run outdoor events and sought outside-dance and pop-up beer garden permits in past seasons, according to City of Muskego meeting documents. Those materials list approvals for outside dancing and pop-up beer gardens at the Aud Mar Drive property, giving the owners some precedent as they plan events during the rebuild.
Timeline and rebuilding plans
Oschmann told TMJ4 demolition started this week and that the owners are “weeks away” from submitting formal plans to rebuild the restaurant, with construction expected to begin later this summer. The beer garden is being framed as a way to keep employees working, bring in some revenue and maintain the property's visibility while insurance and permitting move forward.
What to expect this summer
Local restaurants and neighbors have already stepped up with fundraisers and donations to help staff affected by the closure; CBS58 reported more than $70,000 raised for employees. If the beer garden opens in early June, the property, long used for lakeside dining and weddings, will offer outdoor seating and a temporary menu of food and drinks while the family works through the rebuild. For updates and reservations, the owners direct people to Bass Bay's website and to local coverage as permitting is finalized.
