COMMISSION OKS PLAN TO DEMOLISH BUILDING
Site would be rebuilt to house restaurant, taproom
The former Bob's Beach Shack building, 140 Broad St. in Lake Geneva, could be demolished and replaced by a two-store building featuring a restaurant and taproom.
Pacific Property Holdings LLC wants to construct a two-story building at 140 Broad St. that would feature an Ottie's Chippie restaurant on the first floor and Mashtun Brewing Taproom on the second floor.
A former beach store building in downtown Lake Geneva could be demolished to make way for a new restaurant and taproom.
On July 20, The Lake Geneva Plan Commission unanimously approved a general development plan to allow Pacific Property Holdings LLC in Lake Geneva to construct a new commercial building at 140 Broad St., the former location for Bob's Beach Shack.
The general development plan still has to be approved by City Council.
Pacific Property Holdings plans to build a two-story facility on the site.
The first floor is set to feature an Ottie's Chippie restaurant, which would offer New Zealand-style fish and chips, sandwiches and dessert items. The eatery would would seat about 20 people and would feature an outdoor "takeaway" window for customers who order items online.
The second floor is set to feature the Mashtun Brewing Taproom, which is currently is located at 700 Veterans Parkway.
The taproom would seat about 60 people and would include accordion-open windows to give patrons the feeling that they are sitting on a balcony.
The two-story facility is expected to employ about 20 workers.
"We believe this project will be a positive addition to the downtown Lake Geneva district with unique food and beer, while creating jobs and contributing to the vitality of the downtown district," said Kristen Kettle, co-owner of Pacific Property Holdings.
In addition to the general development plan, city alders also have to approve a precise implementation plan before the project may be started. The general development plan includes the concept plans for the project, and the precise implementation plan includes more details regarding the construction and engineering for the building.
Pacific Property Holdings has been asked to produce a traffic management plan for the demolition of the former Bob's Beach Shack building and construction of the new facility.
"Staff recognizes that this is a heavily traveled area, and we want to make sure everybody is on the same page with how the pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be managed," Building and Zoning Administrator Renee Hanlon said.
Bob's Beach Shack, which was in business for about 15 years, closed in 2024.
