It's a sad day for hamburger lovers.
Mazos Hamburgers announced this afternoon that they have made the decision to close the doors to their restaurant at 3146 S. 27th St.
The family shared the news in a Facebook post:
To our valued customers,
After 90 years in business and three generations of our family's service, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors. Due to the health and well-being needs of our family, we are unable to continue.
We are extremely grateful to each and every one of you for your support throughout the years. It has been the greatest honor and our privilege to have served you!
From our family to yours, we wish you all the best that life has to offer!
All the best,
The Mazos Family (Nick, June, Jackie and Jack Obarski)---â----------------â------------------------------------
I would also like to make a special acknowledgment to Dawn Nyklewicz. Without her dedication, support and incredible work ethic, we would not have been able to go for as long as we have. For 37 years, she has been a coworker, a confidant, and my closest friend. She has not only been with me through the good times, but more importantly, the tough times. She is the most incredible person I have the privilege to know, and she will always have my unwavering respect and forever friendship. Thank you, Dawn.
Love, Jackie.
Mazos will be missed
When I started my series "On the Burger Trail" in 2018, Mazos was the first place I visited. After all, they had been a favorite for decades, so they might as well set the benchmark for a burger review series.
Initially located on 14th Street and Lincoln Avenue, the family moved its burger business to South 27th Street in 1948. By my visit in 2018, the business had moved into its third generation.
In some ways, taking a seat at Mazos was like taking a step back in time. The cozy restaurant maintained the spirit of an old school diner. Depictions of legends including Dean Martin and Nat King Cole grace the walls alongside vintage advertisements for automobile companies including Desoto and Studebaker.
And, as for their food, it was done right: the old school way. Beef was freshly ground daily for their burgers, which were solidly delicious, even without frills. In fact, the sheer simplicity of their approach – good food done right – was undoubtedly the key to their longevity.
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.
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