Milwaukee deli owner to open shop in Saukville

Purchasing the Jake’s Delicatessen name and business from former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig in 2021 was a “dream come true” for Wajeeh Alturkman, who was a frequent customer when driving taxis as a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student.

Alturkman opened his own restaurant in 2007 — the House of Corned Beef on Silver Spring Drive — since Selig wasn’t ready to sell. Fourteen years later, Selig made good on his promise to sell Jake’s, a Milwaukee institution dating back to 1955, to Alturkman.

Now, Alturkman and his business partner David Juma plan to open a new location in Saukville by the end of the summer while keeping the House of Corned Beef and the original Jake’s on North Avenue open. 

The Saukville Plan Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a planning and zoning certificate of compliance for Jake’s Corned Beef, allowing renovations to the former Lam’s Chinese Restaurant at 470 E. Green Bay Ave. to proceed. Lam’s closed in 2024.

Juma and Alturkman hope the new location will bring people and notoriety to Saukville and be the starting point for franchising of their brand.

“We want to walk before we run,” Juma said. “We think we have something special, and we want to start by embracing and being in sync with the community. Once we’re established, we’re definitely going to think about expanding upon that.” 

Juma said Saukville is a “booming town,” writing in the business plan for Jake’s that the location has the potential to reach half a million Wisconsinites in a 50-mile radius.

“We will be surrounded with wonderful people, and I think people are looking forward to having the product in this area,” Alturkman said. “We will work very hard to provide the people with the best product and customer service that we can.”

They also plan to have a presence at events like the Port Washington farmers market to “get the word out by putting food in your mouth” once the kitchen is refurbished, Juma said.

Once doors open, Alturkman and Juma will share culinary and managerial roles, with hopes to offer job opportunities to locals in the future.

The pair met when Juma’s father sold Alturkman a car at BMW of Milwaukee North more than five years ago, sparking a friendship between family members who quickly realized they shared a passion for customer service.

“Nowadays it’s hard to have close friends,” Juma, who has previous restaurant experience, said. “Having somebody like this who’s a great mentor, somebody who’s been established in the business, it’s just great to really just work off that energy.” 

Though the menu for the Saukville location is not final, Jack’s will offer corned beef and pastrami, as well as other fare, keeping in mind the palates of Ozaukee County residents, Juma said. 

“We’ve been trying to poke around, see what this area likes,” Juma said. “Milwaukee’s a little bit different in terms of taste buds, so we’re definitely going to have a pretty wide menu compared to Jake’s off of North Avenue.” 

Roasted chicken, burgers and an ice cream bar are under consideration, Juma said. Though many details have yet to be determined, Juma and Alturkman are excited for the opportunity to expand into Saukville, a sentiment they hope residents will share.

“Saukville has done nothing but charmed us since we’ve been here, and we think that it’s only right for us to offer a difference between your regular Taco Bell, McDonald’s, your big franchises,” Juma said. “We want something that you can actually crave and enjoy and be proud of. We just want to put Saukville on the map for having really good corned beef.”