Firefly in Wauwatosa Village to close after 20 years of food, weddings and private events

A beloved Wauwatosa Village restaurant that's been the spot for good European cuisine, weddings and private parties for 20 years will close its doors this month. Firefly, 7754 Harwood Ave., will close on Saturday, Dec. 23, according to an announcement on Facebook by co-owners and sisters Vesna and Marija Madunic.

"Although we had hoped to continue Firefly for decades to come, unfortunately, the landlord has alternate plans for the building and denied us the option for a renewed long-term lease," the statement said.

The Journal Sentinel could not immediately verify that the landlord denied the restaurant a long-term lease.

The Madunic sisters opened their high-style restaurant and bar in the Wauwatosa Village in 2003 and called it Bjonda. Bjonda became Firefly in 2007, and the business grew into a Milwaukee wedding and private party venue.

"Our greatest joy has been being host to so many celebrations in the space we built to do just that, to gather, laugh, love," they said on Facebook.

The co-owners thanked their staff, some of whom have been working with the restaurant for over a decade, in the Facebook statement.

Customers expressed their sadness over the sudden closure Tuesday on Facebook. One user called Firefly "a fixture of Wauwatosa," while others reminisced on their wedding rehearsal dinner hosted at the restaurant. Some made plans to visit before Firefly's last day Dec. 23, while others asked if the owners planned to open a new location.

Vesna and Marija Madunic were not immediately available for an interview.

You can reach Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@gannett.com