On Labor Day, just before 11 a.m., a car driving in the right lane on Farwell carelessly took a left turn onto Lafayette without checking to see if there was a car next to them in the left lane. The car next to them (that they cut off) swerved to avoid an accident and instead crashed into The Lafayette Place, 1978 N. Farwell Ave. The driver who caused the collision drove off.
The accident was reported the following morning by our friends at TMJ4:
The foundation of the building was seriously damaged, making the building uninhabitable for the time being.
We talked to one of the owners of The Lafayette Place to get an update and find out how customers could help.
“Our landlord [Michel Aboulzelof] has been incredible," says Angie Wierzbinski, co-owner of The Lafayette Place and The National Cafe. "He cares so much about the building and the neighborhood. It’s the third time that something like this has happened, and he's taking on the brunt of the repairs."
Wierzbinski says the damage is serious enough that it hasn't yet been determined how long the repairs might take, and she's concerned for her employees as well as the financial well-being of the restaurant. But she's also grateful that the accident happened on a day when the restaurant is closed.
"We're really busy on weekends," she says, "And I can only imagine what could have happened if we had a restaurant filled with people. I'm grateful there weren't more injuries."
Wierzbinski says she hopes the closure for the restaurant is temporary. In the meantime, she says that customers are welcome to visit The National Cafe, 839 W. National Ave., which serves a variety of vegan dishes, including vegan breakfast sandwiches, huevos rancheros, French toast and a vegan potato and chorizo burrito.
"We'll also be serving the vegan bakery items that we carried at The Lafayette Place," she says, "And running some specials featuring some of the restaurant's more popular dishes."
Wierzbinski says they will also be selling their vegan breakfast sandwich and bakery at the Shorewood Farmers Market on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and their Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich at the South Shore Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. until noon.
She says they may continue selling at one or both markets to assist in generating income for the business. Customers can watch their Facebook and Instagram pages for the most updated information.
Wierzbinski says that catering orders are also more than welcome during these uncertain times. View the catering menu and get more information online.
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.
