Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 4:42 PM EDT Mar 15, 2020
Comeback stories can have a lot of drama.
As far as this one goes, it’s off the charts.
Author’s Kitchen + Bar first opened in June 2018 on Appleton Street. It was a self-financed, first-time restaurant from two accomplished young chefs, Josh Sicker and Matias Whittingslow.
They plugged every penny they had into it, and it was a success from the get-go.
But on the night of March 13, 2019, just nine months later, the place was gutted by an electrical fire. The restaurant couldn’t reopen and the building was later demolished.
Now, almost exactly a year after the fire, the two owners are ready to pick up where they left off with a new location at 125 E. College Ave. in downtown Appleton.
They want to open Tuesday.
But in another dramatic twist, their return could be a bumpy one because of the national coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s something else that is out of our control,” Sicker said. “Just like the little wire in the ceiling that shut us down a year ago.”
“We’re going to be ready, but we have to be cautious. We can’t predict the future,” Whittingslow said. “We should be excited about our opening. We are, but we’re also concerned. It’s overshadowed by what’s happening with the coronavirus.”
Customers, meanwhile, have been eager to see the restaurant come back to life, come hell or high water.
“We had one person call yesterday and say, ‘Yes, we’ll be there. We’re not worried about the virus,’” said Sicker.
They’ll post updates on the Author’s Facebook page if the Tuesday opening has to be adjusted in any way. They know that the situation changes day by day.
Author’s staff of 20, meanwhile, is being trained to be vigilant in hand washing and sanitizing door knobs, tables and anything that’s touched.
The two owners sunk their insurance money and past profits into getting the new location up to code. They bought new equipment and furniture, as everything from the previous place was “burned, soaked or smoked,” said Whittingslow.
Family helped them decorate and prepare the space, which is an 1890 building with exposed brick, wooden floors and tin ceilings.
They’ll open for dinner Tuesday through Friday, and for lunch and dinner on Saturday.
If traffic is initially light, they might split the staff into two shifts and add weekday lunches so employees get enough hours. They offer carry-out, and are talking about adding delivery.
“Whatever we have to adjust, we will do,” said Sickler.
“Our biggest concern is our staff,” said Whittingslow. “This is not just us and not just our restaurant. All restaurants are in the same boat.”
Past customers will recognize the menu of handmade pastas, seafood, empanadas and steaks. They’ll be served by half a dozen returning employees.
“The only thing that’s different is the location,” said Sickler.
Info: Facebook, authorskitchenandbar.com, 920-358-7207. Reservations taken for parties of six or more only.
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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