Let’s Talk Womxn Hosting ‘More Than March’ Dinner
Plus: The Yemeni coffee trend, new Mexican restaurants and downtown boba.
Business owners at the 2024 Let’s Talk Womxn event. Photo courtesy of GM.CREATIVE.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, more than 20 women and nonbinary-led food businesses will come together for an event that’s all about celebrating and supporting underrepresented voices.
The Milwaukee chapter of Let’s Talk Womxn invites guests of all genders to its More Than March dinner—a chance to feast and fight the power at the same time.
The event, featuring everything from vegan soul food to pizza, will take place March 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Ivy House, 906 S. Barclay St.
Participating vendors include Flour Girl & Flame, Cocina Filipina, Honeypie, Modern Maki, Sweetly Baked, Style Pop Cafe, The Real Good Life, McBob’s Pub and Grill, Tots on the Street, Happy Joy Candy Co., Frannie’s Market, Joy Ice Cream Social, Bethmayhem Bakery, Full Circle Healing Farm, Delicious Bites, Outwoken Tea, Solful Kitchen, Buddah Luv, Vegan Soul, Naya Fine Pastries and Peace Love & Sourdough.
The event will also feature a cash bar, along with “dance and party tunes” from DJ Bo Doesn’t Know. Additional entertainment includes tarot readings from Milwaukee Mami, an intention candle station with Moon Spirit Reiki and A Right Path Wellness, booty portraits with RAD Illustrates, henna by Hala MKE, tattoos by Golden Grizzly Tattoo and a photobooth from Milwaukee Airwaves.
This year’s theme, More Than March, is a double entendre invoking the power of protest — whether for voting rights, bodily autonomy or other causes that demand change. It’s also a subtle promise to carry this mission beyond the month of March.
Let’s Talk Womxn is a national collaboration of women restaurateurs across 15 U.S. cities, intended to build combined economic power. Dana Spandet of Flour Girl & Flame and Everyone’s Ice Cream; Liz Joy of Joy Ice Cream Social; Lupe Moreno of Modern Maki; Valeri Lucks of Honeypie, Palomino, SmallPie and Comet Cafe; and Amanda Buhrman of Sweetly Baked are co-hosts of the Milwaukee chapter.
Event sponsors include Sysco, The Ivy House, Windy City Linens, Feisty Floral, Milwaukee Airwaves, Cassie Rosch Photography and Chelsea Matson Photography.
Tickets, priced at $80, are available to purchase online.
Meet Milwaukee’s Newest Wine Bar
The family behind Union House, a bar and restaurant in Cedarburg, has uncorked its newest business — this time, in Milwaukee. BJ and Chris Homayouni, a mother-son team, celebrated the grand opening of Cork Wine Bar on Thursday.
The new business, located at 1039 S. 5th St., has transformed a commercial space previously occupied by a bulk goods store, into a moody oasis for wine pours, cocktails and spirits. Cream City brick, velvet-backed booths and tabletop oil lamps act as a backdrop for an extensive list of reds, whites and rosés, as well as emerging orange wines — made from white grapes fermented with their skin and seeds.
And whether you’re a vino novice or a seasoned connoisseur, knowledgeable bartenders are close at hand and eager to guide you to the perfect pour.
The current wine list includes nine whites and rosés, ranging from the bright and delicate Sokol Blosser Estate Rose, sourced from Oregon, to the citrusy Wither Hills Sauv Blanc, made in New Zealand. Nearly a dozen reds are available, with picks from Italy, California, Australia and other regions. Sparkling wines like Mionetto Avantgarde Prosecco and Gratien & Meyer Cremant Rosé, as well as two non-alcoholic wines — riesling and pinot noir — round out the list.
New Northwest Side Mexican Restaurant Opening Soon
After several whirlwind months of preparation, Cinco Lokos is set to open its doors in Nash Park. The Mexican restaurant will officially launch on Saturday, March 1, bringing family recipes from Veracruz — and its predecessor’s famed fish fry — to the neighborhood.
The new restaurant replaces the former Celtic pub, Thistle and Shamrock, at 3430 N. 84th St.
Speaking at the premises Thursday, owner Izabella Arteaga bounced from bar to kitchen to dining room, chatting with employees and putting finishing touches on decor ahead of a private soft opening.
“I’m just excited to see what everybody feels,” she said, adding that she’s looking forward to seeing faces old and new throughout the coming weeks.”
Owner Shares Plans For New 3rd Street Market Hall Restaurant
Restaurateur Edgar Aispuro Garcia has made a mark in Milwaukee with his expertise in Latin American cuisine. But, unbeknown to most, he also excels in Greek dishes — a skill he developed in an unlikely setting: as head chef at Cermak Fresh Market.
“It’s so simple, but yet so good,” he said, noting that the store “didn’t skimp on ingredients,” importing olive oil and other staples directly from Greece.
With a thorough understanding — and appreciation — for Mediterranean flavors, Aispuro Garcia and his business partner, Paco Villar, plan to celebrate the cuisine with a new concept at 3rd Street Market Hall.
Creta Mediterranean Grill, set to open in the coming months, will be Aispuro Garcia’s second restaurant at the food hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., joining Criollo Rotisserie Chicken. Villar, another industry veteran, is the owner of Kompali, a taco restaurant with locations at 3rd Street Market Hall and on Brady Street.
Sherman Phoenix Entrepreneur Takes on Community Health
At Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, a new-to-the-neighborhood cafe offers teas, shakes, snacks and more — each incorporating products from the multi-level marketing company Herbalife.
But there’s more to Cinnabar Nutrition than just powders and supplements. Its larger mission, as owner Tana Jeter states, is to “promote health, wealth and healing” in the community, with a focus on bettering lives from the inside out.
“Even if it’s not by incorporating shakes and teas … but just by eating healthier and showing how easy that can be,” Jeter said, emphasizing her commitment to making healthy choices both accessible and approachable.
“We don’t have to starve ourselves—we actually need to eat. These small changes, even the ones we don’t think to make, can still help us stay on track with healthier habits.”
New Owners For Garfield’s 502
Opened nearly 20 years ago in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Garfield’s 502 has been a popular place in the area for comfort food, casual drinks, live music and community events.
More than just a place to unwind, the business at 502 W. Garfield Ave. is a “home away from home” for many regulars, who know it wouldn’t be the same without the leadership and passion of its owner, Jewel Currie.
“It just epitomizes who he was as a human being, just the relationships he built, the connection he had to the community,” said Currie’s son, Brandon. “My father created this tradition of love and support, and if you walk in the space, you feel that with the individuals that are there.”
The elder Currie passed away in November, leaving the business to his family. Now, Brandon Currie is set to take ownership and is determined to carry on his father’s legacy. His first act is a symbolic one — swapping the name Garfield’s 502 for Jewel’s 502.
Youth Gardening Group Buying 3 City Lots
We Got This is getting something from the city.
The nonprofit organization, which pays youth in 4th through 12th grade to try urban gardening, is buying three city-owned lots on N. 9th Street totaling approximately 14,000 square feet.
“Participants are paid $20 each Saturday for four hours of service to the neighborhood,” said Department of City Development (DCD) real estate specialist Tess Wynn to the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee meeting.
Organization leader Alex Bruzan said approximately 315 kids participated last year, an average of more than 112 each of the 12 summer weeks it operates.
Different Seafood Restaurant for East Town
Following the closure of Ninja MKE in November 2023, owner Li Chai Chen is reimagining the three-story restaurant space at 770 N. Milwaukee St. While the new venture will depart from the sushi focus of its predecessor, seafood is still on the menu.
Harbor Catch Seafood Boil is set to open in the coming months, bringing a Milwaukee twist to the Louisiana Cajun tradition.
“There’s not much seafood in that area, but there are a lot of meats,” Chen said, referencing a plethora of steakhouses in the East Town neighborhood. Customers expressed interest in a spot for seafood boils, Chen said, and he was eager to deliver.
The family-style meal, popular in shellfish-rich regions of the South and Eastern U.S., typically includes shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels or crawfish, along with vegetables like corn and potatoes. The ingredients are cooked in a seasoned broth and traditionally served without dishes, poured directly onto a paper-lined table for diners to enjoy with their hands.
George Webb on East Side Closed
The East Side’s George Webb permanently closed last week, leaving its storefront at 2935 N. Oakland Ave. available for a new tenant. Building owner Ryan Pattee is now seeking a national food and beverage brand to fill the space—ideally a modern, up-and-coming concept.
Mike Testa, senior brokerage associate at Ogden & Company, Inc., and Richard Reinders, commercial brokerage associate at Ogden, are listing the 1,950-square-foot building, promoted as a “prime restaurant space.”
Testa said Pattee is strongly invested in both the property and its location, seeing the space as an opportunity “to provide a service for the neighborhood.”
“Specifically, he would prefer a national brand—one of the newer, fresher concepts, something cool and unique, but still with that national credit and backing,” Testa said.
A New Operator for Courthouse Cafe
For all but frequent visitors, the Milwaukee County Courthouse can easily become a maze, with each fluorescent-lit hallway blending into the next. Yet one part of the imposing complex has always stood out—more for its quirky charm than its grandeur
Just past the secured entrance off N. 10th St., a bright green awning advertises the Courthouse Cafe. A Watling fortune teller scale and two coin-operated candy dispensers stand next to the cafe’s glass door, projecting the look and feel of a retro arcade more than a government building.
The cafeteria space, once home to Elliott’s Deli Group, has witnessed bleary breakfasts, lively lunches, election-night activity and everything in between. However, it went dark in October 2024 when its most recent operator, Illy Grocer & Cafe, LLC, closed up shop.
After a brief hiatus, the cafe is set to reopen under new ownership with a fresh look and menu, aiming for a full return to service this spring.
Yemeni Coffee Shop Coming to Harbor District
A new cafe serving Yemeni coffee is slated to open in the Harbor District, reflecting a growing demand for the country’s celebrated beans and the immersive cultural experience they bring.
Azal Coffee plans to launch its first Milwaukee location at Freshwater Plaza, 1318 S. 1st St. The mixed-use building is home to businesses such as Momo Mee and Jimmy John’s, along with several others, while apartments occupy the upper floors.
A menu for the Michigan-based cafe chain features a variety of hot and iced coffee and espresso drinks, including classic options such as americanos and cappuccinos, as well as lattes flavored with ginger, sesame, cardamom, pistachio and Biscoff.
In addition to traditional coffee drinks brewed with roasted beans, Azal offers qishr, a beverage made from coffee husks and warming spices like ginger and cinnamon. Also known as coffee cherry tea, qishr has a light, delicate flavor and is caffeine-free.
Boba Shop Opens at 3rd Street Market
Craft Boba, a bubble tea cafe, has opened at 3rd Street Market Hall, reintroducing the trendy beverage to the food hall for the first time since Make Waves closed in May 2024.
The new addition, operated by Zaw Naing Win and Khin Sabei Win, is located in a hawker stall adjacent to Fonzarelli’s Italian Deli. The previous tenant was Shuckers Crab Shack & Oyster Bar.
Craft Boba sells a wide variety of milk teas, refreshers, milkshakes and yogurt drinks, including flavors like Taro Magic, Mystic Matcha and Mango Bliss. Toppings including brown sugar boba, strawberry popping boba, mango popping boba, rainbow jelly and milk pudding are available, according to an online menu. The cafe also offers dairy-free and lactose free alternatives by request.
Craft Boba is one of several new additions to the food hall at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., including the Italian deli, which opened in October 2024, and Pop City, which opened in January.
New Mexican Restaurant for Harbor District Wins Key Approval
The Harbor District’s Lincoln Warehouse, home to three breweries, a distillery, a chocolate shop and a sourdough bakery, may soon add a Mexican restaurant to the mix.
Miguel Herrera plans to open Jalisco’s Cantina at 2018 S. 1st St., taking over a vacant space that was most recently occupied by MOR Bakery & Cafe.
With a background in restauranting — his parents are longtime owners of the South Side’s Jalisco Restaurant — Herrera aims to carry on the family legacy with his own twist.
“My mother and father have owned a lot of restaurants,” Herrera told Licenses Committee members on Tuesday, referencing the eatery at 1035 S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr., which they’ve run since 1987.
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