Firefly Tosa to Close After 20 Years of Service in the Wauwatosa Village

Owners and sisters Marija and Vesna Madunic had hoped to continue Firefly for decades to come, but the property owner has alternate plans for the building and has denied the restaurant the option for a renewed long-term lease.

Opening as Bjonda in 2003, then rebranded as Firefly in 2007, the eatery has been garnering accolades since its first years of service, including “Best Décor in Wisconsin” and “Exceptional Dining Experience” from Chicago Zagat.

“Our greatest joy has been hosting so many celebrations in the space we built to do just that, to gather, laugh, love — and eat and drink of course!” says Marija Madunic. “To all our guests who chose Firefly for their special moments, big and small, and the support of the Wauwatosa community and beyond, we are so grateful.”

The Madunic sisters do not have current plans to reopen Firefly in a different location. But they emphasize that this isn’t an ending, as the Firefly philosophy will live on through the sisters’ other successful business, Gracious Events, Catering & Event Design. Gracious will continue operating out of its Wauwatosa location.

“What we built here in the Village can’t be easily recreated,” says Marija. “The number of celebrations that took place at Firefly were our greatest reward. That’s at the heart of our business, and it will continue on through Gracious.”

Final seatings will be on Saturday, Dec. 23. Visit https://www.fireflytosa.com/ to make a reservation.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.