05/26/2026
To Our Valued Customers and Community. First off, we want to sincerely apologize to everyone who stopped by Cheeseheads over Memorial Day weekend looking forward to one of our smashburgers, pizzas, cheesesteaks, loaded fries, lemonades, or any of the other menu items that have helped us build such an incredible following over the past 6 months.
Unfortunately, we were forced to temporarily close for the Memorial Day weekend due to staffing shortages. The truth is, Cheeseheads was built from the same family-run operation behind our food truck business and Squeezer’s Lemonade stands that many of you have supported for the past 12 years at festivals, fairs, events, and celebrations throughout the region. Memorial Day weekend marks the true beginning of our busy summer season on the road, and this past weekend, our entire core crew had to be committed to those operations.
For the past several months, we have been actively searching for dependable weekend kitchen and front-line help so we could continue operating the restaurant smoothly while also honoring our long-standing summer commitments. Despite our efforts, we have struggled to find the right people willing to step into these positions. It’s not just about finding good workers, but honestly, it feels like there are simply very few applicants applying at all.
We understand there are many factors that contribute to this today. Wages and expectations have changed dramatically in recent years, and as much as we wish we could pay large-city or corporate-level wages, the reality is that Cheeseheads is still a small independent restaurant operating inside a small-town mall. We are doing everything we can to continue building something special while keeping our food quality high and our prices fair for our customers.
This restaurant means the world to our family. We have poured our hearts, our time, our energy, and our savings into building Cheeseheads into something unique for Rice Lake and the surrounding area. Seeing customers enjoy our food, become regulars, and support us has been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve ever had.
The good news is, we are OPEN AGAIN as of today, and we are continuing to push forward.
At the same time, we urgently need dependable weekend kitchen help and front-line staff to help us continue growing and to avoid future interruptions this summer. If you or someone you know is looking for work, enjoys a fast-paced environment, and wants to be part of a fun local business, we would truly appreciate you reaching out to us.
We also simply want to thank this community. Your support, patience, understanding, and encouragement have meant more than you know. Small businesses face many challenges behind the scenes that most people never see, but we remain committed to continuing to improve, grow, and serve this community with great food and great service.
Thank you again for sticking with us.
— Joe, Jill, and the Cheeseheads Team
