CLEVELAND, Wis. (WFRV) — In the heart of Cleveland, a Michigan native is preserving a beloved Wisconsin dining tradition, bringing together deep roots, familiar faces and a strong sense of community.
Tera Castillo, originally from Iron Mountain, worked for the Rupp family for decades before taking ownership of Rupp’s Supperclub. When one of the Rupp brothers and his wife decided to sell the business, Castillo asked if she could continue the legacy and keep the name.
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“I remember asking him if I could keep the Rupp’s name, and he was really excited,” Castillo said as she choked back emotion. “It’s emotional.”
Castillo brings international experience, including a hospitality internship at the Hotel Intercontinental in Seoul, South Korea. But she said the warmth and comfort of Rupp’s brought her back to Wisconsin.
“It felt warm. It felt like family, the home cooking, and I loved it,” she said.
Despite the change in ownership, most of the longtime staff stayed. Castillo’s daughter is also now learning the family business, continuing the recipes and traditions lovingly passed down from the Rupps.
“Our meats are top-notch,” Castillo said. “We age our own meats. We cut our own meats. The ones with the bone in, we buy locally at Brockman’s in Sheboygan, so we try to keep it as local as we can.”
Rupp’s also makes its own pasta, and its horseradish cheddar cheese spread is one of the most popular items on the menu.
Bartenders Chuck and Jenelle are known for crafting standout old-fashioned cocktails and ice cream drinks. Their creations include a non-alcoholic grasshopper and a butterbeer-inspired drink for Harry Potter fans.
Keith Arnold drove in from Minneapolis to visit the supper club. He’s one of the administrators of the Wisconsin Supper Clubs Enthusiasts Facebook group, a fast-growing community of more than 96,000 members. Group members can be spotted by the small orange cones they bring to each visit.
“I just like visiting supper clubs,” Arnold said. “These events are people you hang out with, and I just like to support small businesses, especially the supper clubs of Wisconsin.”
Arnold got the idea to visit Rupp’s from Appleton’s Jill Paul, who organizes supper club events on days when the businesses are usually closed.
“About 7,000 cones across the world, and we have 96,000 members in the supper club group,” Paul said. “It’s doubled in a couple of years.”
Rupp’s displays many of the gifts the Rupp family received over the years, including artwork from local artists that’s now available for purchase.
“We’ve been going around the supper clubs of Wisconsin, hitting a whole bunch of them, enjoying every bit of it,” said Laurie Staffeld of Darboy. “Supper clubs are just a great place to hang out. The people are nice, friendly, food is always great, and it’s just fun.”
Staffeld added that supper clubs are one of the few places where people aren’t glued to their phones, a welcome break from the digital world.
At Rupp’s, there’s no Wi-Fi, but there is Malört, a bitter Chicago liqueur with a legendary reputation.
“Back in the day, it used to be used to treat parasitic illnesses, so it’s good for you,” said Jenelle, known as “the hat girl” for her signature accessories.
“Malört is a lot of fun to drink,” added Don Heesacker of Green Bay. “If you go on YouTube, they have videos of people’s faces. They’re disgusted. The best description I’ve heard is that it’s kind of part grapefruit and part ashtray. It’s a great challenge.”
For all the talk about food and drinks, many guests say it’s the people and the welcoming atmosphere that keep them coming back. At Rupp’s, you don’t have to be family to feel like it.
“It depends on how you’re raised and have a good work ethic,” Jenelle said. “If you love people and care for people, you have to love people to be in a job like this.”
Castillo agreed.
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“I like to say I’m doing it for myself to know that I’m bringing and keeping something alive that the Rupps worked so hard for,” she said. “Their life means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to them.”
Rupp’s Supperclub is located at 1102 W. Washington Ave. in Cleveland. They are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. They are closed on Mondays.
