West Bend, WI – Excavation is underway and a fresh design for Advanced Focus Eye Health Care is moving forward as Dr. Michael Bardenwerper was given the green light during the Tuesday evening Plan Commission meeting to begin rebuilding his office at 1116 N. Main Street in West Bend, WI.
Bardenwerper owns the building, 1116 N. Main Street, which is also the home of his business Advanced Focus Eye Health Care.
Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to FREE local news at
Washington County Insider on YouTube
Bardenwerper worked with American Companies on a design. “Basically, we’re going to remove some of the dormers, put up new gray siding, have black colored shingles, and the peak will be painted the same black trim,” he said.
The building will feature three separate office suites. Bardenwerper said he will move from the north endcap to the center office. The two other suites will be open to lease.
Bardenwerper’s previous tenants indicated they will not be returning.
The building sat empty since a devastating fire September 29, 2022, when seven area fire departments responded to 1100 N. Main Street in West Bend, WI. Bardenwerper waited for the final results after an investigation and then move forward with an insurance settlement.
Last week Bardenwerper was told little more than the investigation had closed.
“They said they had a meeting about it, and they literally just phrase it as both insurances have decided to withdraw their investigation,” he said. “So that, basically I can proceed but no determination of cause will be found.”
“Ultimately I’m left with the decision of what can I afford, and the reality is the insurance total limit does not cover the entirety of the building by a few $100,000,” he said. “So, I’m told by my accountant and basically everyone around me that I have no choice but to basically maintain what is still standing.”
The design will fix the portion of the building that remains standing. “It is sad to even look at a drawing that doesn’t include the Braising Pan. I can only imagine the apparent void mentally and physically when it is filled in as proposed,” he said.
While emotional about the project, Bardenwerper credited his daughter with putting some things in perspective.
“She called me into her room and said the grassy area where the Braising Pan used to be, she wondered if maybe there could be some pretty flowers where the restaurant was,” he said. “Something to honor the Braising Pan. Maybe a nice bench or an engraved stone. It’s only a sentiment… but perhaps appropriate.”
During the past few months Bardenwerper operated out of a space on Highway 60 in Jackson. He praised his clients for making the drive and sticking with him.
“All along I’ve simply wanted to return ‘home’ asap,” said Bardenwerper. “It has been a long-drawn-out process that has at times, seemingly lacked some basic logic and a feeling of doing what is just the right thing. I never like to be a part of those situations when I have a choice and it has been difficult and frustrating to be a part of thus far. I’m hoping the remaining steps to getting home’ are smooth sailing.”
Below is the original fire story from September 29, 2022.
The call came in just after 1:14 a.m. and Ford rushed to her restaurant on the corner of Park Avenue in West Bend. Her employees responded as well, with children in tow as they were met by a brutal picture of flames, fire, smoke, and despair.
“We closed at 2 p.m. on Wednesday,” said Ford. “We know the fire was in two parts of the restaurant and the FD said this was not an easy task because it was a well-constructed building with cement block, nooks and crannies, and double walls.”
Ford moved into the building about 12 years ago on October 10, 2010.
“I want to thank every firefighter who came and worked tirelessly for four hours straight,” she said. “They did all they could do.
“The support from the community has been overwhelming… I don’t know what anyone can do. I haven’t processed that myself yet.”
West Bend Fire Department Captain Kenny Asselin said the initial call came from the cleaning person who is on scene to clean the restaurant.
The caller evacuated the building and West Bend Fire Department was on scene within six minutes of receiving the call.
Click HERE to watch firefighters battle the fire at Braising Pan
Jackson Fire Department also responded with a fire engine and chief officer.
West Bend fire fighters made an interior attack on the fire in the basement, conditions rapidly deteriorated and forced firefighters to exit the building and fight the fire from the exterior.
At 1:38 a.m. the alarm was upgraded to the box level; fire fighters from five departments responded including Allenton, Fillmore, Grafton, Kewaskum, Newburg, and Slinger.
The department of public works brought in a backhoe to tear down the structure to gain access to the areas still burning.
There is damage to the three adjoining units in the building and the restaurant area is a total loss. The building did not have a fire sprinkler system. The fire is under investigation by the West Bend Fire Department in West Bend Police.
