Wauwatosa Restaurant Continues To Face Challenges After Storms

WAUWATOSA, WI— Last week’s storms caused businesses along North Avenue to close for several days. But Tosa Bowl and Bun, 7212 W North Ave. in Wauwatosa, continues to face challenges.

Tosa Bowl and Bun co-owners Pete and Sue Venturi lost power on Tuesday, and it was restored on Thursday.

“We lost three days of business and all the food in the cooler,” Sue Venturi said.

She estimated the loss of tossed food at between $7,000 and $10,000.

The electrical power surge also ruined the business's refrigerator compressor/condenser. Parts needed to be reordered to fix the compressor, and the cost to fix the compressor is estimated to be between $8,000 to $10,000.

It is unclear if insurance will cover the damage from the storm. But the owners are doing what they can to press forward.

Until the compressor is repaired, the restaurant can’t restock food. The owners expected the parts and repairs to be completed by Wednesday.

Over the weekend, the restaurant served only breakfast, and this week, the restaurant opened at 3 p.m.

“Generally, our business is soup, salads and sandwiches and whatever else is going on,” she said.

People don’t realize all the refrigerated items needed to make a salad or sandwiches, such as salad dressing, meats and cheeses, all of which had to be thrown out, Sue Venturi said.

Usually, when staff members make chili or soup, they make five gallons at a time. But the restaurant still needs a place for the food to cool.

“You can’t just take five gallons of hot food and stick in a tiny refrigerator,” Sue Venturi said.

The business had to deal with protests, the pandemic and now power outages. It hasn't received any financial assistance, and customers continue to support the business, Sue Venturi said.

“This has been an incredibly hard year, you know?" Sue Venturi said.