Brady St. mainstay Cempazuchi to close
Restaurant explored Mexican cuisines
The owner of Cempazuchi announced on Facebook Wednesday morning that the Mexican restaurant at 1205 E. Brady St. would close sometime “within the next several weeks.”
“This is a personal decision that comes after much thought, and the time just feels right. It’s time to seek out new adventures, take time to see more of the world, and see what else might be out there,” Bryce Clark wrote.
The restaurant won critical acclaim when it opened in 1999 with its menu of dishes that explored regional Mexican cuisines. The next year, it was named to the Journal Sentinel’s list of Top 30 restaurants.
“When Sal Sanchez Jr. and I took that leap and decided to open Cempazuchi, it was with the hopes that people would come to understand and appreciate the great and varied culinary cultures of Mexico. I know Sal would be proud of what we accomplished, and we owe that all to our great customers who have become like family,” Clark wrote. Sanchez died in 2002 at the age of 41.
After Cempazuchi opened, Dennis Getto, then the Journal Sentinel’s dining critic, wrote that he considered it “Milwaukee’s most interesting restaurant.”
“Its menu offers diners an incredible variety of Mexican entrees
“It’s time to seek out new adventures, take time to see more of the world, and see what else might be out there.” BRYCE CLARK, CEMPAZUCHI OWNER
from many of that country’s regions,” Getto wrote.
The restaurant will offer specials over the next few weeks as it says goodbye to its customers.
It’s the second longtime Brady St. restaurant to say goodbye recently, joining the Italian restaurant Mimma’s Cafe, at 1307 E. Brady St. Owner Mimma Megna announced in September that the restaurant she opened in 1989 would close on New Year’s Eve.