Busy Waukesha: Top 10 Business Stories from 2016

WAUKESHA -- 2016 was a busy year for development and business in the greater Waukesha area, and since April, Waukesha Patch has seen a number of business stories affect a lot of people.

2016 was the year the iconic Weissgerber's Gasthaus closed after 33 years of operation. Dispute over what to do next on the Gasthaus site is a story we will be following throughout 2017 - or at least it looks that way.

People loved the Panera bread story, and while your Patch.com editor is partial to their cinnamon crunch bagels, we've also seen more stories come across that mattered to you.

Here are the top 10 business-related stories from Patch.com in 2016 based on the number of people who read, reacted to or commented on each story:

10. Walter USA to Close Waukesha Plant; 39 Employees Affected - Walter USA, a service provider for the metalworking industry, has announced it is closing its Waukesha plant.

9. Group to Fight Razing of Historic Waukesha Building - Oft-vacant property at 500 Riverview Ave. that historically had been known for housing the Grand View Health Resort and Moor Mud Baths

8. Weissgerber's Gasthaus Closing after 33 Years - If you want one last meal at the landmark Waukesha-area restaurant, you've got less than a week to do it.

7. Waukesha Says No To Strip Mall At Former Gasthaus Site - Plan Commission voted down developer plans for strip mall, Panda Express after popular German restaurant closed earlier this year.

6. Sendik’s to Open New Grocery Store in Waukesha - It's one of five new Sendik's grocery stores that will open in the Milwaukee area over the next 18 months.

5. Waukesha Panera Bread Now Has Planned Open Date - In June, it was announced Panera would be part of development underway at the Shoppes at Fox River ... here's when it's planning to open.

4. Spurs Saloon in Waukesha to Become Sobelman's Pub and Grill - Milwaukee restaurant chain Sobelman's is opening up a burger joint in downtown Waukesha and will open later this year.

3. Waukesha Meijer Finally Open - The 192,000 square foot store has been in development for about 3 years and has brought approximately 280 jobs to the area.

2. Sunset Crossings Getting Three New Restaurants, New Coffee Shop - We already knew about Panera Bread, but now an Einstein Brothers Bagels, Firehouse Subs and a Caribou Coffee are moving in. Find out when:

1. Waukesha Denny's Closed Monday ... And Nobody Knew in Advance - Neither the customers nor the employees of the Waukesha Denny's restaurant on W. St. Paul Ave. saw it coming Monday morning.

image via patch.com