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Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 3:36 PM EDT Mar 27, 2020
Opening a restaurant in the midst of a pandemic could test the mettle of any entrepreneur.
The owners of Author’s Kitchen + Bar, Matias Whittingslow and Josh Sickler, however, had an ace in their pocket. They’d been in business before and had a loyal customer base waiting for them.
“That’s our saving grace. If we were a new restaurant, I don’t think we could have opened,” said Sickler. “It’s a very scary time. Like opening in the middle of an apocalyptic scene. Who woulda thunk? But the community has really supported us. It’s heartwarming.”
More: The Buzz: Updated list of restaurants offering take-out, delivery
Author’s was previously open on Appleton Street until an electrical fire damaged its building beyond repair. The new spot, 125 E. College Ave. in downtown Appleton, opened March 17 with just takeout, delivery and a skeleton crew of five. Its redone interior sits empty.
The restaurant takes payment via phone (920-358-7207) and watches for customers as they pull up to the curb. “We have a good system,” Sicker said. “We sanitize like crazy. We always did, but now it’s beyond, beyond, beyond.”
He and Whittingslow won’t pay themselves for a while. “We pay employees and C.O.D. (deliveries) first,” he said. “Everything goes back into the business. We can make the rent this month.”
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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