Stone Creek Renovating Factory Cafe
Coffee shop temporarily closed.
Stone Creek Coffee’s factory cafe at 422 N. 5th St. Photo taken Aug. 7, 2026 by Sophie Bolich.
Stone Creek Coffee‘s factory cafe at 422 N. 5th St. is temporarily closed for renovations.
The project, which began July 1, marks the first major overhaul of the 137-year-old building since the cafe opened to the public in 2012. It is expected to reopen by the end of summer with a new kitchen and updated bakery, office and learning areas.
“The goal isn’t to become something different,” leadership wrote in an online post in late June. “It’s to create a better space for gathering, learning, asking coffee questions, sharing a meal, and building community together.”
While the factory has long housed Stone Creek’s roastery and bakery, its new commercial kitchen will expand the in-house food program through Project EAT, which is currently in place at the Downer Avenue and Whitefish Bay cafes.
Menus at those locations include housemade yogurt bowls, breakfast tacos, egg sandwiches and more, with an emphasis on allergy-friendly options. Stone Creek partners with vendors such as Sassy Cow Creamery, Hundred Acre Farms and others for locally sourced ingredients.
Renovations will also overhaul the cafe’s Learning Lab, a host space for hands-on barista training, coffee cupping and public workshops. Classes and tours remain paused during construction as the lab is rebuilt in a new part of the building.
Additional changes throughout the 1,130-square-foot project area will include a hand-painted floral mural, a new accessible restroom, an updated service counter and new seating areas. Groth Design Group is the architect for the renovation, which is estimated to cost $150,000, according to permits submitted to the City of Milwaukee.
Stone Creek got its start in 1993 under founder Eric Resch, who now co-owns the business with Melissa Perez and a number of employees. A certified B Corporation since 2022, the company operates nine cafes throughout the Milwaukee area, including locations at 2650 N. Downer Ave. and in Shorewood, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Delafield and Oconomowoc.
Those stores are operating as usual throughout the factory location’s temporary closure.
Construction updates and an eventual reopening date will be shared on Stone Creek’s social media.
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