The Buzz: A rundown of downtown Appleton’s comings and goings – Appleton Post Crescent


Maureen Wallenfang


Appleton Post-Crescent

Published 8:00 AM EDT Jul 29, 2019

When Mile of Music fans arrive by the tens of thousands in downtown Appleton starting Thursday, they might notice some changes in the business scene and signs of things to come. Here’s a quick review College Avenue and Appleton Street ins and outs. 

Opened

Fika Tea Bar (207 W. College) opened in June in the same block as Cleo’s. It’s a lounge that serves hot or iced tea, bakery and boba drinks.

Archive: The Buzz: Tea bar sets opening date in downtown Appleton

Nice Time (125 E. College) is a bar/lounge and music venue that took the former Cena space in April. 

Archive: The Buzz: Nice Time to open Thursday in Appleton

Fress Restaurant & Bar (511 W. College) is a “casual upscale” restaurant that opened in March.

Archive: The Buzz: Fress prepares to open

Moved 

Shear Chaos Hair Parlour (111 S. Appleton St.) combined its salon and barber shop, formerly in the Zuelke Building, earlier this month. The new space faces Houdini Plaza.

Archive: The Buzz: Shear Chaos to move in downtown Appleton

Coventry Glassworks (514 W. College) sold its stained glass window business to employee Kristy Meyer. She moved it to 2125 N. Richmond St. as Studio K Stained Glass. Back in the College Avenue store, fixtures and gifts are on sale through mid August. A prior accepted offer for the building fell through and it is again for sale. 

Archive: The Buzz: Coventry Glassworks to close

Rebranded

Mill Creek (417 W. College) has been renamed The Bent Keg. “We’ve owned it for a year-and-a half and wanted to make it our own,” said Tyler England, owner with wife Heidi. The rebranding comes with a facelift: a new garage door front, signage and marquee. 

Under construction/renovation

Gabriel Lofts’ (201 E. College) construction is underway. Now that its 1960s metal facade is off, the former Gabriel Furniture building’s original 1888 brickwork and painted ads returned to view. 

More: The Buzz: Q&A on Gabriel building redo in downtown Appleton

Chase Bank (200 W. College) is being renovated, downsized and modernized in the eastern portion of its building. The building and drive-thru property are for sale. The bank will remain as a tenant in the building, but its drive-thru will close this fall. 

Sold

The former C.U. Saloon building (409 W. College) was sold to investor Laura Saint Geours. She said renovations will start in August, and the building will become a restaurant/bar in 2020. She did not name her future tenant. 

Leased

University Rx (133 E. College) is a new pharmacy under construction over the next few months in the former Pavana Salon space. It’s under the umbrella of RxLink Pharmacy, Nutrition & MiniMart, which is owned by pharmacist Jude Jean-Pierre. 

Closed

Il Angolo (527 W. College) closed June 29 and its space is for lease. 

More: The Buzz: Il Angolo closes in Appleton

Riverview Gardens (513 W. College) no longer uses the former Wichmann building for retail and storage space. It listed the four-story building for sale for $690,000.

Gone

Behind City Center Plaza, demolition over the past few months removed an aging parking ramp, attached office building and Appleton Street Sports Bar & Grill. Kittycorner from that, the Author’s Kitchen & Bar building was torn down three months ago following a fire that gutted the building. 

Contact Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.

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