A fire destroyed the Bass Bay Brewhouse in Muskego early Friday morning, leaving a local family without their business and home just weeks before Christmas.
Around 6 a.m., a chef arriving for work discovered smoke and called 911, according to an employee of the owners. The family, including two small children, lived in a residence attached to the restaurant and lost everything in the blaze.
“There was a 3 and 4-year-old toddler that lost everything,” said Matthew Budnik, a family friend.
The Bass Bay Brewhouse is owned by Ryan Oschmann and his business partner, Andy Meinen. The restaurant has been in the Oschmann family for decades before the partners took it over and remodeled it.
“I remember them building it. They took down a bar and used all the reclaimed lumber for the inside of it, but their blood, sweat and tears literally went into it,” Budnik said.
The restaurant became a community gathering place over the years, with neighbors frequently visiting for special occasions and celebrations.
“We were there for birthdays,” said Diana O’Reilly, who lives nearby…