The past few months have incited a variety of questions about the future of Irie Zulu, the African and Jamaican restaurant located at 7237 W. North Ave.
Owner Yollande Deacon initially closed the restaurant this winter to accommodate a series of repairs stemming from frozen pipes inside the walls of the building. The repairs took longer than expected and resulted in the need for a significant amount of cosmetic work to be done on the interior of the space.
In a phone conversation with Deacon today, she indicated that – after months of looking for someone to assist her in operating the restaurant – she has sold the concept to new owners as a turn-key restaurant.
According to Deacon, the new owners are finalizing operational details; however, they expect to reopen the restaurant by early summer, likely with a new concept.
Deacon, in the meantime, plans to refocus her energy on speaking engagements, product development and consulting under her own personal brand.
Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for additional details as they become available.
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.
