CHICAGO _ Billy Corgan will close Madame ZuZu's, his tea shop and vegan cafe in Highland Park, Ill., on March 18.
"(W)e are forced to move for various reasons which involve tenancy, but certainly nothing to do with the strength of the business (which thanks to all our great customers has been robust and steady)," Corgan wrote on Instagram.
He opened Madame ZuZu's in 2012 first as his own neighborhood source of fine teas from local purveyor Rare Tea Cellar. The quiet 1930s chinoiserie storefront evolved into an art gallery and cafe, with vegan sandwiches and pastries, plus fair trade coffee and smoothies, as well as an event space where the musician himself occasionally performed.
"(W)hen I'm home next around my birthday (March 17) I will be looking at even more spaces," he added.
Corgan invited the public to "come party with us on the 18th as we say goodbye. There will be free tea that day for everyone who comes by, and special last-day sales. (And as far as @madamezuzus 2.0 goes, we hope to open a new location very soon, remaining in Highland Park if possible)."
Asked if Corgan would stop by the shop before it closes, his manager Chloe Mendel said: "I am sure he will stop in at the last day, as he is very involved in ZuZus world. But I can't promise anything."
