MILWAUKEE — UPDATE: 03/02/26 — According to a social media post on The Wicked Hop Facebook page, the restaurant has now reopened. The post says licensed pest control professionals were brought in, a full treatment and deep cleaning of the restaurant were completed, and additional preventative measures were implemented.
According to the post, all of the required health standards were met before reopening.
The post says the safety of guests and staff members is their top priority, they take this matter seriously, and they're committed to maintaining the highest standards every day.
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The Wicked Hop is to remain closed until further notice after the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) had done an additional inspection on Friday and had found more live cockroach activity on the first floor in a back preparation area, according to MHD.
MHD inspectors had given more recommendations and had encouraged the establishment to consult with their pest management company to help on future corrective measures.
Additionally, MHD had said that the Wicked Hop will focus on implementing further necessary steps over the weekend to address the issue. Inspectors will return next week to reassess the next steps.
Watch: Milwaukee's The Wicked Hop temporarily closed after health inspectors find cockroach activity
MHD health inspectors were conducting a routine health inspection for a separate facility that had a shared basement with The Wicked Hop on Broadway Avenue in downtown Milwaukee and had found dead American Cockroaches throughout the area.
Due to their findings in the basement, the inspectors had then checked The Wicked Hop's kitchen space where they had then found live cockroach activity. The MHD inspectors had issued an Order to Cease Regulated Food Sales as a result.
Miles O'Neil, co-owner of the Wicked Hop, said the closure came swiftly.
"They immediately shut us down," O'Neil said.
The inspectors returned the next day for a follow-up inspection and found live cockroach activity in the kitchen space.
O'Neil said the Wicked Hop has been in business for nearly 22 years. While he said the restaurant has dealt with pests before, he said he has never experienced a shutdown.
"It's a challenge, but, you know, I don't think anybody should be real overly concerned, in my opinion. It's not a good thing. It's something that we are working diligently on," O'Neil said.
Andrew Olson and Kate Rotkis, had planned to visit the Wicked Hop Thursday night and were surprised to find the doors locked.
"Well it kind of sucked, I just moved here so I was excited to try all these place," Rotkis said.
Olson said the closure gave him pause, but not enough to keep him away for good.
"Not really, if you look at any restaurant close enough you'll find problems. I'm hoping they can fix it," Olson said.
At this time, The Wicked Hop is working with a licensed pest management company to help with the situation and MHD inspectors will return to the restaurant as early as Friday.
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