The Wicked Hop to remain closed over weekend after more roach activity found during follow-up inspection
Updated: Feb. 27, 2026
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wicked Hop will remain closed over the weekend, according to the City of Milwaukee Health Department, after additional live roach activity was found in the back preparation area of the first floor during a follow-up inspection Friday.
Inspectors encouraged the restaurant to consult with a licensed pest management company and implement additional steps to address the issue.
The health department says they will reconnect with the restaurant next week to reassess.
Posted: Feb. 26, 2026
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wicked Hop, located in Milwaukee's popular Third Ward, has been forced to temporarily close after the health department found cockroaches during an inspection.
"We've got pest control working on it," said Miles O'Neil, the co-owner of the Wicked Hop. "We are cleaning the place up."
According to a report from the Milwaukee Health Department, the order to cease operations was filed Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The report says inspectors located several dead American cockroaches throughout the basement food storage, single-service storage, and prep kitchen areas. A live cockroach was also found in the main kitchen on the first floor.
According to the health department, The Wicked Hop must remedy the issues before they can reopen.
"This isn’t a real uncommon issue in the restaurant industry," said O'Neil. "Though we've never had it happen in our 22-year history here."
O'Neil says the Wicked Hop is the oldest building in the Third Ward, which brings challenges. He say he believes the pest problem is being caused by construction.
"They've been working on the streets the last couple of weeks and so that can always be a little bit of an agitator for some little critters out there," said O'Neil.
O'Neil says the health inspectors are expected to come back and check in on Friday, February 26th. He says the restaurant hopes to reopen for the weekend.
Cockroach found at The Wicked Hop