Couple plans to purchase and transform Rupp's in Downtown Sheboygan
Samuel Melei and Diedre Martinez are planning renovations to the restaurant
SHEBOYGAN — After being up for sale for over a year, Rupp’s Supper Club in Downtown Sheboygan could soon have new owners.
On Wednesday morning, the Sheboygan Redevelopment Authority reviewed plans from Samuel Melei and Diedre Martinez that would allow them to purchase Rupp’s and modernize the downtown dining establishment. The project is estimated to cost just over $1 million according to Melei. Due to scale of investment, the couple requested $537,000 from the city’s Revolving Loan Fund, which helps fund business development.
The couple is proposing to hire 30 workers within the first two years. According to the city, they submitted a solid business plan with multiple revenue streams and creative concepts for maximizing revenue. In addition to renovations to the restaurant, they plan to have four new vibrant apartments in the building. The restaurant was listed for sale in April 2024 and the current asking price is $799,000 for the 8,972-square-foot building.
Martinez is the CEO of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce, a role she has held since December 2017. She replaced Betsy Alles, who retired after seven years. Before coming to Sheboygan, Martinez served as the Membership Development Manager at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce for three years. Melei is an attorney and serves as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Sheboygan and Village of Kohler. He was first elected in April 2024.
Richard Rupp bought the restaurant in 1979, which was formerly called Everett's Lodge. Rupp died at the age of 76 in May 2019. His wife Sandra has been operating the restaurant since.
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