Two-time Olympian Dave Tamburrino and his family opened Idyll Coffee Roasters in Wauwatosa, a two-story roastery and café built for community gatherings.

Sooshibay opens Jan. 31 on Water Street, bringing conveyor‑belt sushi, a full bar and color‑coded plate pricing to downtown Milwaukee. The Kenosha concept will pair booths with sit‑down service.

Sweet Connie's Cafe on King Drive has closed after months of delays and a co-owner's cancer battle. Booked events will be honored while owners and landlords sort next steps.

A proposed Banh Mi Corner would bring banh mi sandwiches and Vietnamese coffee to West Allis Towne Center; city staff recommended approval with conditions and the council will review the plan in February.

Small Change, a Bay View salon turned coffee bar, will open Feb. 2 with Anodyne coffee, Greige pastries and Ruby’s bagels. Owners ran a soft opening this weekend ahead of the debut.

Elbow Room's Cedarburg outpost opened in December with smash burgers, bourbon and a 100-person event space at the former Galioto’s site.

Plant Joy Deli cut the ribbon in Wauwatosa, launching a 100% plant-based commercial kitchen after receiving a $10,000 Building Bridges grant. The deli will offer prepared meals, housemade vegan meats and catering.

A proposed El Viejon restaurant aims to convert a south‑side corner store into a Mexican seafood spot, but a nearby church buffer and past liquor‑license fights could complicate approval.

Gordo's Bubble Waffles will open a Brookfield shop in February, extending the Milwaukee family's dessert brand to the suburbs.

Pitmaster Jack Holt's Smokin' Jack's opened at 2311 N. Murray Ave on Milwaukee's East Side, serving slow‑smoked brisket, rib tips, sandwiches and a cocktail program.

Urban Beets announced it will close its Brown Deer café this Saturday, ending the chain's last local outpost. Owners say they'll keep regular hours through the final week.

SapSap's Lao dishes, Rod N' Makk's chicken sandwiches and True Echo VR's group games give 3rd St. Market Hall a fresh downtown boost.

A West Side staple updated its dining room and menu, added an exclusive Pearl Rouge oyster and revived weekly nights to give diners new reasons to return.