Good morning,
It’s been a difficult few weeks writing about local restaurants in the Milwaukee area. Last week in this space, I shared a plea — first extended by many local restaurants who’ve been transparent about their struggles to stay afloat this year — to support your favorite dining destinations in whatever way possible, even if that just means sharing a glowing review with friends.
Since sharing that plea one week ago, I wrote about two more restaurant closures: The 16-year-old National Cafe in Walker’s Point and Brisa Do Mar in the Third Ward, which had been open for just over a year and a half.
But as I’ve been reporting these closures, talking with business owners about struggles and reading customers’ heartfelt goodbyes to their favorite spaces, I have found hope.
Over the weekend, the community came out strong in support. Strange Town, on Milwaukee’s east side, shared that it had sold out every night since announcing it needed help. Walker’s Point cafe Midwest Sad said it had been selling out, too. In Riverwest, Seven Swans Crêperie said, “We went from the slowest weeks we’ve ever had to the busiest week we have EVER, EVER had.” And on Milwaukee’s near west side, Sichanh Volp of Mekong Cafe shared a tearful message of gratitude to those who recently filled her family’s restaurant.
“Thanks to your immediate and powerful action, we have been given a crucial moment to catch our breath and keep moving forward,” Volp said. “Every single table, every single order, and every single shared post has been a lifeline. You are the reason our kitchen is still buzzing.”
It filled my heart to see such a beautiful response to these restaurants’ appeals for support. You can all make a difference. You already have. Please, keep it up.
One easy way you can do so? Buy gift cards through Visit Milwaukee’s Buy Local Bonus Campaign, which runs through Dec. 24. Just make an in-person purchase of $25 or more in gift cards at any of the participating Visit Milwaukee partner businesses and you’ll receive a free bonus $25 gift card from that business. Visit Milwaukee set up the $25,000 initiative to directly support and promote local businesses during the holiday season.
We’ve lost so many local favorites this year. But as I’ve been reporting the closures, I remain hopeful for Milwaukee’s dining scene. Soon, I’ll be sharing lists of restaurants and bars in the Milwaukee area that closed over the year, as well as the new ones that opened. And, readers, I felt a little buoyant for the first time in a while when I realized there were more new restaurants on the list than those we said goodbye to.
The past few weeks have illustrated how unrelenting the restaurant business is, but also how resilient it can be. There are still so many people working so hard to make their restaurant dreams come true in unforgiving times.
Look out for the list of newly opened restaurants (as well as which restaurants I’m looking forward to most in 2026) in the coming weeks. Hold on to them for reference and please do your best to support them just as you have the restaurants you’ve fallen in love with over the years.
Happy dining,
Rachel
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Dish: Finding hope for Milwaukee’s restaurants
Reporting by Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
