Marijuana-themed Cheba Hut plans 1st Milwaukee location

Cheba Hut, a marijuana-themed restaurant chain serving toasted sub sandwiches and late-night munchies, is planning an east side location.

The fast-casual restaurant with a full bar could open at 2907 N. Oakland Ave. as soon as May. It will have a mural by a local artist inside, patio seating on the south side of the building (where a mural is planned) and offstreet parking.

The east side location would be the first in Milwaukee for Coloradobased Cheba Hut; the first one in Wisconsin is in Madison.

Franchisee Robert “RC” Huhn plans to open two more around Milwaukee eventually. The first is opening near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee because Cheba Huts, found in 14 states from California to Florida, have done well when located near colleges, Huhn said.

The sandwiches are named after strains of marijuana — such as Panama Red for a chicken marinara sub, and G-13 for turkey and roast beef with chipotle mayonnaise, bacon and provolone.

Even so, Huhn said, “There’s people that could go in there, eat, sit, look at the mural and never pick up on that marijuana theme, and others that would pick up on it. It’s not in your face; it’s a little more subtle.”

Besides sandwiches, the menu has a section of “munchies” geared to late night — items like meatballs, French onion soup, garlic cheese bread and hummus — along with salads and sweet treats such as Rice Krispie treats and brownies, although not kind of brownie.

Besides late hours on Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant would be open every day for lunch and dinner.

Cheba Huts also have full bars, and this one is expected to have at least 12 draft lines for beers that will include local brews. The stone-topped bar will have seats for about a dozen customers.

Between the dining room and patio, the restaurant would have about 96 seats, before social-distancing considerations. It also will have online ordering through an app, third-party delivery and a designated area for picking up takeout.

Huhn and Heather Gawlitta, the franchise’s district manager, said they were looking for a franchise to open in Milwaukee and were drawn to Cheba Hut by the quality of the food — the restaurants make their own sauces, grate cheeses and slice meats fresh daily — and by the corporate culture. Huhn noted that Cheba Hut also doesn’t perform background checks on its employees.

Gawlitta said they also were drawn to “the fun and kind of chill aspect” of Cheba Hut. It’s “what we would call a fun theme,” Huhn said.

COURTESY OF ROBERT HUHN Robert Huhn and Heather Gawlitta are planning a Cheba Hut restaurant at 2907 N. Oakland Ave. The national chain, which is based in Colorado, has a pot theme, naming its toasted sub sandwiches for strains of marijuana.