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It didn’t take long for The Stillery to develop a following at W204 N14025 Fond du lac Ave. in Richfield. In fact, the bar and restaurant has seen significant growth since opening its doors in September of 2019, attracting diners from a broad range of surrounding municipalities.
And the bar and restaurant is hoping for similar magic as it prepares to expand its reach with a second location at 1304 12th Ave. in Grafton.
Partners Peter Kotsakis, Shaun Bowe, Jason Otto and Jason Pipkorn purchased the building, which formerly held Atlas BBQ, earlier this year, with plans to open The Stillery Grafton in August or September.
What to expect
Kotsakis says that the Ozaukee County location, which will be operated with the assistance of partners Mallory Chipman and Jorge Villasenor, will mimic the rustic vibe of The Stillery’s Richfield location, but will feature a few advantages, including a larger dining area.
Guests at the Grafton location can expect largely the same menu at the Grafton location, complete with popular items like their Woodford bourbon chicken sandwich, scratch made mac and cheese, burgers, pizza and award-winning Friday night fish fry.
At the bar, guests will also find the brand’s popular signature old fashioneds along with craft beer and other specialty cocktails. The bar’s popular Whiskey Club (1300 members and growing) will continue to be an offering. But Grafton guests can also expect a ramped up tequila program.
As they have, The Stillery will also continue to support the local community through sales of its popular apparel with a percentage of proceeds from each item going to support a local organization.
“We feel like Grafton has a lot of potential,” says Kotsakis. “It’s a great community, and it’s a lovely area there by the river. It’s also growing quickly, so we are excited to be a part of that while bringing something new to the area.”
The Stillery Grafton is hiring for both front and back of house positions, with training to begin in May at the Richfield location. Interested parties should inquire by email at info@thestillerywi.com.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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