(Facebook.com)
Kenosha, Wis. — In a tragic blow to a beloved local business, an early morning fire on Tuesday destroyed the soon-to-open Elsie Mae’s Pies & Pints, just hours after it received final licensing approval and days before its anticipated grand opening on Mother’s Day.
The Kenosha Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 3:00 a.m. to the 6600 block of 120th Avenue after reports of a structure fire. When officers from the Kenosha Police Department arrived, they found flames shooting through the roof of the building, formerly Uncle Mike’s Highway Pub.
Fire crews arrived to find the structure fully involved. A primary search confirmed no one was inside, as the building was unoccupied and under renovation. Due to the rapid spread of the blaze, firefighters transitioned to a defensive attack. The fire was brought under control by 4:05 a.m., and no injuries were reported. The building, however, is a total loss.
The site was to be the future home of Elsie Mae’s Pies & Pints, a new venture from the owners of the popular Elsie Mae’s Canning and Pies. In a heartfelt public statement released later in the day, the business expressed profound sorrow:
“A Heartbreaking Loss at Elsie Mae’s Pies & Pints
Early this morning, a devastating fire consumed the building that was to be the new home of Elsie Mae’s Pies & Pints. Just hours after receiving final approval from the licensing council and with plans to open on Mother’s Day, our dream was quite literally burned to the ground.
This space wasn’t just a building—it was built with our hands, filled with love, late nights, hard-earned progress, and big dreams. We poured our hearts into every inch of it. It meant everything to us.
We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support already coming in, and most importantly, we want everyone to know that we are safe. We’re taking a moment to grieve this incredible loss and gather our thoughts before sharing what comes next. Thank you for believing in us, for cheering us on, and for helping bring this dream to life—even if only for a moment.
With love and heartbreak,
The Elsie Mae’s Family”.
Fire Chief Daniel Tilton confirmed that the cause of the blaze is under active investigation. Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Bristol, and Newport, Illinois. The Kenosha Police Department also provided support at the scene.
No further information is available at this time.
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23 Responses
huh . Elsie Mae doesn’t sound Greek to me
Because this isn’t Waukegan..
So yer saying the bolts of Zeus only strike Waukeganopolis??😂😂😂
Awe….how sad this is for them. Dont know them personally but they certainly could use a lot of prayers. Thankfully everyone is safe.
1. I hope they were insured.
2. I hope the family didn’t burn it down to collect the insurance.
3. If it was non-family Arson, I hope the Firebug doesn’t end up in Judge Kerkman’s courtroom…..cuz he will go free….
Not every stupid thought in your head needs expression.
I saw a post that said WE energies had to be called because there were live wires on the roof. Last night we had high winds and there are a lot of trees in that area. Maybe a branch fell on works, wires snapped and fell on roof…etc. Also, not everyone is a crook or shady… smh. Accidents do happen.
Thank you very much! Well said
Yeah, but this accident is a bit suspiciously-timed…..
Yeah, during bad weather before an opening you’ve been looking forward to. C’mon man quit being an idiot.
It was a very old wooden building. Any spark would be a total loss.
Question
If they bought this building, and was “supposed” to be opening within 14 days, and was just hours after being approved… where was the fire protection/ sprinkler system? A fully running kitchen and eatery has this all in place. So no fire alarms and fire protection? You mean you just let this OLD TINDER BOX sit bare naked in the wind 2 weeks before full operation? Hmmmmm
OMG….always a theory. Why don’t people base decisions on facts? Especially when the facts are not even known. Dont you think that would be a bit TOO suspicious? Thats just stupid! Stop it! Always welcoming drama!
They don’t have sprinkler systems on the roof. This was not a kitchen fire, use your noggin.
Fire moved through the roof, so it was switched to a defensive fire attack.
When was it already determined this was a roof fire ignited by high wires?
A couple years ago a fire broke out in the Kenosha Yacht Club building, at around 2 a.m. The source was faulty electric connections in the kitchen. We know that because it was all caught on security video. In other words, sometimes shit just happens. Not everyone is into insurance fraud.
Elsie Mae will recover. Everyone I know talks about those pies.
They are indeed awesome.
Yes they are! Best pot pies ever!!!!
The amount of work that went into creating the new space only for it to all go up in smoke must be absolutely devastating. I feel terrible for the owners. Something this catastrophic is traumatizing and takes years off your life just from stress. The only positive is no one was physically hurt. 🙏🙏🙏
I am so very sorry for them and grateful to the fire department for risking their lives to put out the fire