By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Dec 09, 2021 at 1:01 PM

Atlas BBQ, 1304 12th Ave. in Grafton has announced that it will be closing its doors after service on Sunday, Dec. 19.

The barbeque restaurant, which opened nearly a decade ago, was among those who paved the way for the expansion of the scene in the Milwaukee metro area.

Owner Michael Tsuchihashi posted the news on Facebook today, along with his wholehearted thanks to the customers who've supported the restaurant over the years. 

On Sunday, December 19 – Atlas BBQ will do our final smoke. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but a necessary one nonetheless.

We opened our doors to the public in November of 2012, and kept on going for 9 years. We’ve hired amazing people over the years, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see where many of them are today, especially our high schoolers who now have families and careers of their own.

We were asked to be at your dinner table for weddings, birthdays, baptisms, graduations, reunions and in times of mourning.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family, and thank you for your never-ending support over the years.

Mike T

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.