A familiar Riverwest corner is gearing up for a comeback. Cafe Zagora is slated to open this September in the former Riverwest Co-op building on Clarke Street, aiming to turn a onetime grocery-and-café hub back into a neighborhood hangout.
New Tenant, Same Corner
The plan calls for Cafe Zagora to debut in September 2026, using the 733 E. Clarke St. storefront that housed the co-op and café for years. As reported by Milwaukee Business Journal, the new venture will take over the entire former Riverwest Co-op space.
What Used To Be There
The building at 733 E. Clarke St. was home to Riverwest Co-op Grocery & Café until it wound down operations in September 2025, according to Riverwest Co-op. The co-op's board posted a letter last summer detailing financial struggles that pushed the community institution to close.
Riverwest in Flux
Cafe Zagora’s planned opening lands in the middle of a busy shuffle for Riverwest’s restaurant and retail scene. Riverwest Co-op closed its regular service in September 2025, as reported by Milwaukee Record. Earlier this spring, Centro Cafe went dark after 17 years, underscoring how quickly the commercial mix is changing along these streets.
Why ‘Zagora’ Matters Here
The name “Zagora” reaches back to an old local nickname roughly meaning “beyond the hill,” used by Polish settlers for parts of what is now Riverwest. That historical nod, recorded in neighborhood histories and reporting, may help the new café land with longtime residents, according to coverage from WUWM.
Whether Cafe Zagora can fill the community role the co-op once played is an open question, but its scheduled September opening is already on the radar for Riverwest neighbors and local business watchers. Details on the menu, hours and ownership are expected to surface closer to opening, and we will relay those as they become public.
