Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 8:27 AM EST Dec 20, 2019
River Tyme Bistro leased the former Atlas Waterfront Café space at 425 W. Water Street, which faces the Fox River in Appleton.
If all goes as planned, the new cafe will be ready sometime this spring.
It’s a new venture started by Candice Mortara and Christine Williams, co-owners of Fox River Tours, which operates two tour boats on the Fox River. Their River Tyme boat operates from a De Pere base, and River Tyme Too docks at RiverHeath in Appleton. Williams is also an Appleton alderperson who is not running for reelection in April.
Because Fox River Tours boats can only operate six months of the year, the partners looked for something that could stretch their business to a year-round operation.
“This is our land boat,” said Mortara on the new cafe. “Just like the boats, this is helping people to get to the river. If they can’t go on it in a boat, they can get right next to it.”
Atlas’ deck overlooking the river was one of her favorite places in Appleton. Atlas closed in April and its space has been vacant ever since.
Williams, a history buff, saw this as a chance to be part of history. The building was constructed in 1878 as The Atlas Paper Mill.
“I respect and appreciate the history of the paper mill, the flats and the Fox River,” she said. “We are eager to serve the public in this historic space.”
Archive: The Buzz: Atlas closes on Appleton riverfront
“I talked to Randy (Stadtmueller, the building’s owner) and he said some businesses wanted to turn it into office space. He really wanted to keep it open to the public,” Mortara said. “Sometimes, if you want something like that, you really have to do it yourself.”
Creating the cafe also will help them keep existing boat employees.
“We have a wonderful crew and staff, and they work for us for six months and then have to find other things for the rest of the year. This can keep them together for the whole year,” Mortara said.
The café can also act as a backup venue when boat charters can’t go on the river because of bad weather.
Beside bakery, Colectivo coffee, quiche, homemade soup, salads and sandwiches for breakfast through lunchtime, River Tyme Bistro has flexible private party/meeting spaces that can accommodate a dozen to 150 people.
The café space is being gutted now and will be redone with details that mirror the history of the building, including some reclaimed wood from Urban Evolutions and steel to echo the steel beams. The kitchen is being moved.
“Diners can eat indoors overlooking the river, or out on the large deck,” said Williams. “We plan on extending the season of the deck by portable propane heaters. Future expansion would be seating below the deck, even closer to the river.”
Info: Facebook or 920-903-1415. In a survey linked to the Facebook page, the partners invite ideas, requests or advice for the new café.
Note that River Tyme Bistro is not related to the similarly named Rivertyme Catering, a business associated with Michiels/Fox Banquets that closed three years ago.
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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