Last September, a reckless driver caused an accident that damaged the foundation of the building that housed The Lafayette Place at 1978 N. Farwell Ave.
Initially, the owners planned to reopen the plant-based eatery. But numerous factors have contributed to their decision to close the business permanently.
This morning, I spoke with Angie Wierzbinski, co-owner of both The Lafayette Place and The National Cafe, 839 W. National Ave. to clarify their decision.
“We put a lot of consideration into our decision,” confirmed Wierzbinski, “And we’ve decided that we will not reopen. Our landlord [Michel Aboul-Zelof] was amazing, but construction on the building took much longer than expected. We lost most of our employees and reopening would be much like starting over again.”
Wierzbinski also cited safety as a significant factor in the decision.
“Experiencing the accident was scary,” she noted. “It happened at 11 a.m. on a Monday. And it’s not the first time. I definitely have a high level of anxiety around keeping guests safe, whether they’re seated inside or outside. Even personally, I’m still not sure I’d feel comfortable working inside the restaurant.”
Despite the decision, she expressed gratitude for the support they received over the years from patrons of The Lafayette Place.
“We had three awesome years there, and we really loved being part of the East Side community,” she said. “We also really hope that folks who loved our food there will consider supporting us at The National.
"Our business in Walker’s Point is thriving and we offer a significant number of vegan options. More recently, we’ve also increased our bakery selection after cutting back during the pandemic, so there are new things for people to try when they visit.”
Wierzbinski says she feels strongly about refocusing her energy on The National, which has become an integral part of the Walker’s Point community and a yearly vendor at the South Shore Farmers Market. She confirmed that they will once again have a presence at the market this summer and will include vegan baked goods among their offerings.
The National Cafe is currently open Thursday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wierzbinski notes that they are likely to extend their hours to include Wednesday service if demand warrants.
As for the former East Side restaurant, The 720-square-foot retail space at is currently available for lease at $2,500 per month. Inquiries can be directed to Agent Mark Kivley of RE/MAX Lakeside-North.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
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 every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, 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.
