Posted on Wednesday, 3rd February 2010 by Admin
Location of Food with Flair
EVANSVILLE ? Those who often finding themselves spending their lunch breaks Downtown will soon have a couple more options.
On Tuesday, the Evansville Redevelopment Commission approved plans to change the exteriors of several buildings in the preparation of opening restaurants inside. One of the proposed businesses, Food with Flair, will go in the former WVHI radio building near the corner of King Boulevard and Vine Street, as well as an adjoining two-story structure.
The other is to open at 113 SE Fourth St., where Jeanne’s Gelato is now. Lisa Daugherty, an agent with F.C. Tucker Commercial, declined to identify the restaurant, saying she is still in negotiations with the owner.
John Daleiden, who bought the King Boulevard building in November, said he and his wife, Kim, saw a good opportunity in opening a restaurant close to so many government buildings and businesses. Also making their decision easy was the construction of the Downtown arena just a few blocks down the road, though they would likely have gone ahead with the same plans regardless, Daleiden said.
“It’s mostly designed to cater to the folks across the street, in the Civic Center, federal building and post office,” he said.
Daleiden said Food with Flair will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There will be seating inside for about 30 customers, but he expects most people will carry their orders out.
The fare will be American in style, mainly consisting of soups, sandwiches, salads and plate-lunch specials. For breakfast, customers will find coffee, pastries and breads.
The drink menu will include beer and wine, Daleiden said. And prices will be moderate.
“People won’t think twice about stopping in to pick up coffee and breakfast,” he said.
Desserts will be a specialty of Food with Flair, Daleiden said. A partner in the venture is Paul Krack, a pastry specialist with many years of experience working in Evansville restaurants.
Daleiden said the configuration of the King Boulevard building lent itself well to use as a restaurant. One section had been a candy factory, ensuring it has the electrical and gas connections needed for a kitchen.
Other improvements will include the installation of heating and cooling system and interior doorways. He is also having a new roof put on, the change that was subject to approval by the Redevelopment Commission.
Daleiden, who also owns apartments on the North Side, said he hopes to open the restaurant by April. Before then, he will approach the Redevelopment Commission again before making changes to doors, windows and other exterior features.
One worry off his list is a need for additional parking, he said. The buildings have spaces behind them.
“And we were close enough to the public parking, so it probably wasn’t going to be an issue,” he said.
Daugherty, meanwhile, would give few details about who is looking at the Fourth Street building. She said she hopes to have the deal completed by Saturday, only saying the potential tenant is someone well known in local restaurant circles.
Matt Kissel, who owns the building, said others have expressed interest in opening a restaurant or shop there. He said he is working to help the current tenant, Jeanne’s Gelato, move out of the space.
To make the building more attractive, Kissel plans to replace the front wall of the ground floor. The front door will be made flush with the facade, eliminating an indention.
That change will clear room inside for more seating. And it will allow for the installation of double doors, used to prevent cold air from seeping in during the winter.
Jim Lang, the environmental designer in charge of the renovation, said he will ensure the first-floor facade looks like those of the second and third. His plans call for painting the trim white, the bricks a creamy green and the door a coral red.
“I wanted to have a color that looked flashy but wasn’t modern,” Lang said. “It’s old colors.”
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Tags: Downtown, Evansville Downtown
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