12/16/2024
Hello everyone,
We are writing to you today with a bittersweet feeling in our hearts. For those of you who haven’t heard, we have sold the buildings at our property on Taylor Avenue, and have closed Blue Bear Racine.
We would like to begin by thanking all of you for the last 8 years. When we opened in 2016, we truly had no idea what the future would hold. Tesa was at a point in her life where she had just very recently overcome a decades worth of medical problems, and was passionate about bringing scratch-made, locally sourced (and of course gluten-free and vegan) food to an area that had a need for it. You guys responded with an overwhelming amount of people with medical problems, dietary restrictions, or just a desire to eat clean. You got us through COVID, and we turned what was known as a “cursed corner,” into a successful business for almost a decade. We are forever grateful.
To our regulars, many of whom have turned into good friends, we cannot thank you enough. Maureen & Daniel, Linda & Jeff, Bruce & Dale, Lisa & Tom (or Robert), Brian & Buffy, Nick & Taylor, Sam & Josh, The Campbells, The Ricchios, Charlie, Sandra, Chad, Houd, and anyone else Alysa may be forgetting while writing this list (I’m sorry!) you guys are the reason we are now able to focus on this new chapter of our lives, and take the jump to be in Door County full-time!
We have been running Blue Bear Ellison Bay for three years now, and living in Door County most of the time. All the while, and as we get busier and busier and have expanded with two additional restaurant concepts, Joe has been going back and forth as many as multiple times in one week to make sure all locations are stocked with all our scratch-made bakery items, making sure the buildings are running, and all the countless other things he does. Owning and operating from three and a half hours away was just stretching us too thin as we continue to grow up here, so this is the decision we’ve made. We hope you all understand, as we hope you all continue to navigate life’s tricky situations doing what is best for you and your families. We are looking forward to having the family together more, enjoying this beautiful county that we now call home, and maybe even taking some time off! (we’ll see…mom and dad don’t really have an off-switch). If you ever find yourself in the area, please pay us a visit. It brings us such joy when people walk through the door in Ellison Bay and say “we’re from Racine!”
Lastly, to anyone who has played a key part in keeping this place running over the years, we thank you most of all. Whether you helped get the concept off the ground, got us through the COVID years, or kept the place running after we moved up north, thank you, thank you, thank you. Dustin, Marco, Alena, Bella, Kendra, Krystle, Gerardo, Justin, Tannis, Carlie, Emma, Teresa, Allie, Callyn, Kurtis, Logan, Kayla, Ivy, Alina, Ryan, Brian, Rufus, Bobby, Gerald, Chris, and once again, everyone Alysa is certainly forgetting, we literally could not have done it without you.
As we close this chapter of our lives, we wish the best for all whose paths we’ve crossed, and we are hopeful for the continued growth of the city of Racine. If you’re ever in the mood for a Blue Bear Mimosa and a Cinnamon morning bun, you know where to find us.
Until we meet again!
Joe, Tesa, & Alysa
