By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jun 09, 2020 at 7:46 PM

Crazy Water, a restaurant which has served customers for over 18 years at 839 S. 2nd St. in Walker's Point, has announced that it will be closing its doors on Thursday, July 2.

The news is bittersweet, as it requires us to bid farewell to a concept which paved the way for countless other restaurants on South Second Street. 

However, it also offers an opportunity to embrace the new. Chef Peggy Magister has announced that the restaurant will reopen the following week as La Dama Mexican Kitchen, with a menu led by longtime Crazy Water Chef Emanuel Corona. 

The news, as well as a few additional details, was announced this evening in a Facebook post.

"Thank you for making Crazy Water one of Milwaukee's most popular eating establishments. We have provided high-quality creative cuisine for over 18 years and have been an enthusiastic part of the local community. We are grateful and humbled by your loyalty throughout the years. With great gratitude we will bid farewell to Crazy Water on July 2, 2020.

"While you may be feeling disappointed, we also have great news to share for a new concept we are very excited to present to our city! In the same space as Crazy Water, with very much thought and expectation we are launching a new restaurant concept called La Dama - Mexican Kitchen.

"This fresh and new approach to Mexican cuisine is nothing that Milwaukee has seen to date - a refined Mexican cantina inspired by trips Chef Peggy has taken to Mexico researching and learning about Mexican food and preparation. We truly believe that you will enjoy the inventive and carefully crafted menu Chef Emanuel Corona, who has been working closely with Chef Peggy for over 20 years, has created.

"Thank you once again for your loyal patronage over the years. We hope that Milwaukee will embrace La Dama with as much love as it had for Crazy Water. Please join us in celebrating Crazy Water for the next month, as we say goodbye to what we certainly consider a legend on the Milwaukee restaurant scene and then a new joyful welcome to our new concept, La Dama on our grand opening July 7, 2020."

Watch OnMilwaukee for additional information as it becomes available.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.