Linda Falkenstein
Mildred's has been sold.
Fans of Mildred's Sandwich Shop, you have two weeks in which to eat a last Leadbetter or Blystone. The venerable holdover from Madison's veritable hippie years has been sold, and the new owners plan to open a new restaurant at the site, according to its Facebook page.
"Hello, dear friends and sandwich lovers. It's with a bittersweetness that we officially let you know that Mildred's has been sold and will be open for the last time on February 15. It has been a truly wonderful, heartful, delicious 35+ years," reads a post by the outgoing owners.
The change in Mildred's status began last April, when longtime owner Nels Nelson died suddenly of heart failure. After closing for a while, the restaurant reopened in May, thanks to the efforts of Nelson's sister Dianne and employees past and present. Past employees even collaborated to recreate favorite recipes that had never been written down.
"Thank you so much for staying with us, especially last year after we lost our Nels. Thanks also to Mildred's sandwich artists past and present and to Nels' family and to our neighborhood," continues the Facebook post.
Mildred's will be open for the next two weeks, with a farewell "shindig" planned for Feb. 15. Further details on that are forthcoming, but there may be an opportunity for the community to meet the new owners at the goodbye bash.