Beloved Wisconsin staple mysteriously shuts after 45 years

A Wisconsin restaurant staple is shutting shop after a 45-year run. 

Piggy’s Restaurant and Lounge, based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, approximately two and a half hours from Minneapolis, will stop seating guests on September 20. 

It’s the latest classic restaurant to close its doors as Americans change their dining-out habits and food prices continue to skyrocket.  

For more than four decades, Piggy’s served classic chicken, pork, and ribs cooked in a hickory smoker. Prices for entrees ranged from $12 to $44. 

The restaurant has been operating in an old boat part factory since it moved from its riverside spot in 2004. The latest spot features two bars, stained glass from a torn-down church, and a live music stand for Blues. 

But major changes started rolling out in recent months.  

In June, the restaurant’s long-time owner and lead chef, Chris Roderique, announced his retirement after running the joint for 24 years. 

Owners of a nearby Italian restaurant announced that they would be taking over in July. 

In a Facebook post, the owners said the restaurant would shut down – but teased a new concept

The new owners said at the time that Piggy’s would stay ‘open and will continue to operate under our current lunch and dinner hours.’ 

Despite announcing the restaurant’s closure this month, the company is teasing a potential reopening.

‘Something new is already simmering behind the scenes,’ the restaurant wrote in a cryptic Facebook post. 

‘We can’t wait to welcome you back soon and share what’s next.’ 

Piggy’s has a 4.5-star rating out of five on Google Reviews and a 3.7-star rating on Yelp. 

‘Revisited Piggy’s after this week’s change of owner,’ one recent visitor said. ‘We didn’t expect to walk into such a drastic change. My husband and I went there specifically for prime ribs.’ 

Piggy’s joins a long list of restaurants that have changed their business after new pressures.

Last week, Jenkins Quality Barbecue, a Florida establishment that attracted Presidential candidates, announced it had to shut its three restaurants because of financial issues. 

Restaurants have been struggling with food costs and a downturn in customer spending in 2025 

Piggy’s served classic chicken, pork, and ribs dishes that were cooked in a hickory smoker

Multiple household-name restaurants have also announced bankruptcy filings, mass closures, and staff cuts in a difficult restaurant environment. 

Red Lobster, Hooters, TGI Fridays, On The Border, Roti, and Bertucci’s — all restaurants that catered to middle-income Americans — have all filed for bankruptcy in the past two years.

Meanwhile, giant fast-casual chains like Sweetgreen, Cava, and Chipotle have all announced lower sales numbers than expected. 

The restaurants are largely facing two major strains: increased costs and lower customer traffic.

But two restaurants have somehow ridden the wave of uncertainty to banner sales: McDonald’s and Chili’s.

The Golden Arches has been able to fend off sales dips by offering promotions, like its $5 meal deal. 

Meanwhile, Chili’s has blitzed social media with a series of slick, timely ads for young people and introduced a new revamped menu with high-value items which saw its sales soar.