Hillside Coffee House Giving All Employees A Week Off In August

OAK CREEK, WI — The former school house and city hall turned coffee shop, The Hillside Coffee House, announced it will close down for a week in August. The reason? Some vacation time for employees, Rosemarie Patterson, the owner, told Patch.

The shop will close on Aug. 11 and will remain closed until Aug. 17. The business will return to normal hours on Aug. 18. Patterson said its a perfect time for her employees, many of which are students, to get some end-of-summer vacations in.

"We're a smaller shop," Patterson said, "It's about wanting people to be here, and enjoy being here."

Patterson will also take the week to herself. A vacation alongside family is in line, she said.

"Customers always tell me to take a vacation," Patterson said.

The week off comes as a thank-you from Patterson to her employees, which are hard to find, she said.

"Go out and enjoy it, summer is short. I appreciate all of my employees, they deserve a life and a break too," Patterson said.

Statewide, there is a shortage of employees, and the Hillside Coffee House is not exempt. Many employees are high school students. While great for weekends, the looming school year will prove more difficult for businesses like Patterson's.

Related: 48% Of WI Small Businesses Need Workers: Report

Patterson said it has been difficult to find older employees for daytime shifts, but the business is "doing OK."

The Hillside Coffee House is located at 237 Ryan Road in Oak Creek. It will be closed Aug 11-17.

On Aug. 18, it will open back to regular hours, which are below:

Monday-Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 7:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.