Vuka Peri Peri Chicken Opens New Minneapolis Location
The restaurant occupies a Lyn-Lake space, testing a new concept in a corridor marked by frequent tenant turnover.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Vuka Peri Peri Chicken has opened a new restaurant at 626 W Lake St in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis. The establishment, which offers a menu of flame-grilled chicken and plant-based bowls, began its soft opening on October 8.
Why it matters
The opening signals a new use for a high-traffic retail space that has seen multiple turnovers over the last seven years. For local restaurateurs, the site highlights the persistent challenge of maintaining long-term occupancy in the corridor following the 2019 closure of its long-standing predecessor.
The new restaurant occupies a site that hosted three different businesses since 2019, contrasting with the prior 40-year tenure of a single occupant. The new menu features 5 distinct flavor profiles across its flame-grilled offerings.
The players
Taz Nzara
Co-owner of Vuka Peri Peri Chicken.
Dominic Nzara
Co-owner of Vuka Peri Peri Chicken.
Shepherd Nzara
Co-owner of Vuka Peri Peri Chicken.
The details
Vuka Peri Peri Chicken operates by emphasizing its flame-grilling technique as a primary differentiator for its chicken-based menu. The business also serves burgers and mushroom and chickpea bowls, catering to a broader range of dietary preferences. By occupying the 626 W Lake St property, the owners inherit a location that has required significant rebranding efforts to sustain tenant stability since 2019.
Timeline
2019: It's Greek to Me closed its doors at the site.
2023-2025: Casablanca Restaurant and Lounge occupied the space.
October 8, 2026: Vuka Peri Peri Chicken launched its soft opening.
Market Landscape
This opening marks the latest attempt to revitalize a commercial site that has struggled to establish long-term tenancy since the closure of It's Greek to Me in 2019. The rapid succession of recent tenants highlights the ongoing volatility in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood dining market.
Operators in the Lyn-Lake area should monitor how this new entrant utilizes its niche menu to differentiate itself in a space with a history of tenant turnover. Owners of nearby venues should track the restaurant's ability to maintain customer traffic beyond the initial soft opening phase.
The takeaway
Understanding the operational history of a property is essential for assessing the risk profile of new restaurant ventures. Owners should evaluate how a site's previous tenant turnover impacts their own lease negotiations and market positioning strategies.
Further reading
For more on local market shifts, see our Openings & Closings coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bring Me The News.
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