Cheesehead maker to move from St. Francis to Milwaukee

Company plans to add 16 jobs in larger space

Cheeseheads dry in molds at Foamation Inc. former facility in St. Francis.

Last updated on May 15th, 2019 at 05:03 pm

Foamation Inc., the maker of Wisconsin’s iconic cheesehead hat, plans to move from St. Francis to a larger location in Milwaukee.

An employee at Foamation Inc. in St. Francis prepares to dye a buffalo chicken hat.
An employee at Foamation Inc. in St. Francis prepares to dye a buffalo chicken hat.

The 29-year-old company has applied for a $411,000 loan from the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. to purchase a 15,920-square-foot, 116-year-old building at 1120 S. Barclay St. The building has an assessed value of $780,000, according to city records.

“We’re hoping to be there by the later part of the summer,” said Ralph Bruno, the company’s owner.

Cheeseheads dry in molds at Foamation Inc. in St. Francis.
Cheeseheads dry in molds at Foamation Inc. in St. Francis.

The company is currently located in a 5,000-square-foot building at 3775 S. Packard Ave., where it does all of its manufacturing. Bruno said he hopes to add 16 positions (8 full-time and 8 part-time) within the next year. The company currently has 15 employees (13 full-time and 2 part-time).

MEDC’s Loan and Finance Committee is to consider the loan request at its April 12 meeting.

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