News From Downtown Eau Claire

10 C
Sunday
April 5, 2015
Leader-Telegram
News from Downtown Eau Claire
This ad sponsored by DECI — By Salina Heller, Rebecca Lubecki, Sheila Dunlap, Jen Sonnentag, John Balgaard
Downtown Budget Cinema re-opens after extreme makeover: theater edition
People probably will not recognize the little budget theater on
South Barstow Street the next time they visit.
With the lack of movies made on film today, the Downtown Budget
Cinema could not hold off making the switch to digital movies any
longer. That was the main push for the recent additions and re-opening, according to Connie Olson, one of the owners of the theater.
When Olson decided it was time to go digital, she wondered what
else could be added to the theater, bringing a “go big or go home”
concept to the renovation.
“We didn’t want to put in digital without making the rest of the facility nicer,” Olson said.
The theater underwent a complete transition to become a place
where people can go to for dinner and a movie. And even some
drinks. Beer and wine will be served at the theater, which has raised
some concerns, however, Olson said serving alcoholic beverages is
only to offer more options for theater-goers.
“We’re not rebranding just for adults, we still want to be able to
bring in family movies. It’s still going to be for everyone,” Olson said.
“We’re still a budget theater, but we want to be able to offer more to
the public,” she added.
That means people also have more to snack on than the traditional
theater staples of popcorn and nachos, such as pizza and sandwiches, since a kitchen has been built into the theater. There will also be
other finger foods like cheese curds, chicken strips, french fries, and
mini corn dogs available.
Along with the menu changes are a new paint job, carpets, seats
and even a self-serve soda machine. A brand new handicap restroom
has been added upstairs, while the downtown restrooms have been
remodeled. There are fewer seats in the theaters as the table space
has been added in front of the seats.
“The whole process and transformation is amazing. I hope our customers are happy along with our South Barstow Street friends,” Tom
Klemmer of the Downtown Budget Cinema.
Downtown Eau Claire can also look forward to the theater hosting film festivals. People have already contacted Olson to show local
Seating in the new budget theater allows for food to be brought right to movie-watchers’ seats. The
number of seats were roughly cut in half to about 133 seats plus tables. Owner Connie Olson says
they’ve doubled the staff to eight with the new kitchen and added services.
films they produced and want to show them here in Eau Claire. The
theater is already signed up to take part in Jazz Fest and set to host
a couple bands, with room for other musicians to sign up still. Olson
says they can also host a variety of parties.
Kids can look forward to Saturday morning cartoon showings, with
breakfast offered as an option. Olson said that is something they are
working now to hopefully introduce this summer.
With all the new changes, Olson said some things will remain the
same. The theater will still show all types of movies, from family
friendly to R-rated. No one will have to worry about the beloved authentic butter and low-prices disappearing, either. Olson said those
will not be going anywhere.
DECI honors those who support and encourage a strong Downtown
Award-Restaurant. Best in Customer
Service-Retail was awarded to The
Local Store. And people voted that the
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
was Best in Customer Service-Service
Industry. Director of the Library, John
Stoneberg says there are almost 1,300
daily visits to the library. It employs 67
people with a total of 895 years of public
sector experience.
DECI created another new award to
recognize a person or group that puts
Downtown first. They make improvements that have had major impact in the
downtown area, and contribute to the
Most of the winners at the DECI Annual Awards Dinner gathered for a photo at the completion of the
impact on how people feel about downdinner. Thirteen awards were given out.
town. Valleybrook Church received the
Thirteen awards were handed out
Pizza a new name, but kept much of the first Downtown First Award for its work
at Downtown Eau Claire, Inc.’s recent
same delectable menu.
in partnering to organize the Our City
Annual Awards Dinner. The dinner, held
DECI created a few new awards. One
Spring Clean Up. Assistant Pastor Nate
at Houligans Steak and Seafood Pub, is
is called the Downtown Experience
Abaun says, “ I love to see this commuto celebrate the year’s accomplishments Award. It recognizes an event, entinity come together and serve our city.
and to recognize many people, business- ty or idea that involved people or exThere’s something so powerful about
es, and organizations that contributed to posed them to a positive Downtown
caring for the place you live.”
the successes.
experience, thus enhancing their enAnother new award is given to a perjoyment while living in or visiting the
With more than 550 people from all
son who has contributed to the growth,
area. Voters loved many things about
over the community voting, the first
vitality, or overall appeal of Downtown,
award for Development of the Year went the community, with the top vote getmaking it a better place to live, work,
ters being DECI’s Grand Evening on the and visit. For spending hours, donating
to JAMF Software. The second award
Bridge, DECI’s Let it Glow! lights, the
was for Renovation of the Year. Pizza
his time to select, cut, donate, and decoDowntown Farmers Market, and the
Plus, with a new outdoor patio, and the
rate our Downtown Christmas tree, Sean
Sounds Like Summer Concert Series.
newly remodeled upstairs, now called
Malone of Thomas Leigh Decorators,
But it was The Local Store, with its
The Venue Apartments, received that
received the award for Outstanding
products made locally or that evoke
award. An owner, Benny Haas, says the
Individual. “The service we provide our
‘local,’ that was number one.
dental office of the 1950s is still visible
clients is unique, so it seems fitting to
“It’s important our community conin the apartments, with the doors of the
give back to the community in a unique
tinues to build a stronger understanding way. It’s great to be able to provide
exam rooms still remaining. He says
those who stay there quip “it’s like New and appreciation of its own talents and
something that is uplifting to a commuoutputs-and highlighting the great stuff nity,” says Malone.
York City.”
being made around us is a logical way to
Downtown was home to 15 new busiDECI also created the Downtown
nesses in 2014. The coveted Best New
do that,” says owner Nick Meyer.
Helping Hand Award, given to a busiBusiness honor went to Guppy’s Pizza
For a second year in a row, voters said ness, organization, or individual that has
on Water Street. Owners Joel and Tanya Houligans Steak and Seafood Pub should helped others in a great way, in order
Gupton say they gave the former Jim’s
receive the Best in Customer Service
to improve Downtown. For its part in
SITE PLAN REVIEW - 3D RENDERINGS
helping to create a successful A Grand
Evening on the Bridge and Clearwater
Winter Parade, and for helping neighbors, the entire West Grand Business
Improvement was given this award by
DECI. Last year, the BID voted to help
out the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild
as its roof was leaking. It voted to give
the Guild a loan and businesses took a
turn making a payment. BID member
Laura Girolamo of The Court ‘n House,
says, “The more we can support our
block, the better, because we don’t want
to see our neighbors close their doors.”
DECI presented the Member of the
Year Award to Citizens Community
Federal, which has helped to create the
magical Family Night in the Park, by
helping to bring in the 25x14 foot inflatable movie screen.
The Volunteer of the Year Award
was given to Randy Lee of Images by
Lee Photography. Lee has volunteered
his time to photograph nearly all DECI
events for the past two years.
DECI’s recipient of the Above and
Beyond Award isn’t even in Downtown
Eau Claire, but instead, has its main office in Chippewa Falls. Northwestern
Bank received the award for its support of the new A Grand Evening on
the Bridge. Northwestern Bank not
only gave financial support, but helped
in planning, setting up the event, and
pledged support for 2015.
The bank’s vice president, Jerry Kuehl
says, “We look to actively support all
of our communities. Downtown Eau
Claire is (arguably) the heart of Western
Wisconsin and it’s only natural that we
need to do our part to support, promote,
and grow it.”
VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST
City leaders work on ramp leases
Work at the site of a new city parking ramp will begin soon, but city leaders are first working out the
EAU
CLAIRE
NORTH BARSTOW
details of lease agreements with JAMF Software and RCU. On MarchCITY
24,OFthe
E.C.
City |Council
approvedPARKING STRUCTURE
an $8.5 million contract to build a 520 stall ramp off of N. Barstow Street. RCU and JAMF have said
they’d lease 340 stalls.
01.19.2015 | BWBR #3.2014105.00
771445_4-05-15
Page 2
News from Downtown Eau Claire
This ad sponsored by DECI — By Salina Heller, Rebecca Lubecki, Sheila Dunlap, Jen Sonnentag, John Balgaard
Guppy’s transforms from Jim’s It’s time for spring cleaning!
Pizza; wins new business award
Mark your calendars for this year’s huge spring clean-up! A record 423 people signed up to volunteer at last year’s Our City Spring Clean-Up hosted by
Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. and Valleybrook Church. Volunteers work on dozens
of projects and tasks during this one day event. Families, church groups, friends,
co-workers, students, and others donate their time and clean riverbanks, parks,
roads, sidewalks, and trails. They also plant flowers, paint and sweep, and help
with many projects at downtown non-profit organizations! It’s a great day with
an amazing outcome!
We hope to see you on May 16th! Head to DowntownEauClaire.org for more
information and to sign up!
Joel Gupton pulls a fresh, hot pizza from the pizza oven. He and his wife thought about opening
up other types of businesses, including a daycare, but ultimately decided that the pizza shop
would be a good fit.
Open for only six months, Guppy’s Pizza, located on 421 Water Street., won the
Best New Business Award at Downtown Eau Claire Inc.’s Annual Awards Banquet
February 25.
The pizza parlor is run by Joel and Tanya Gupton, who took over the wellloved Jim’s Pizza, which is the former go-to pizza place for college students. Joel,
once an employee of Jim’s Pizza, returned to the building, opening it as Guppy’s and
kept the menu relatively similar.
“It’s a good location with an exciting, energetic customer base,” Gupton said.
Joel said what they enjoy most about making pizzas is meeting the customers,
and their most ordered item is pepperoni pizza. On the weekends, it’s a different
story. “We sell, on average, one mac and cheese pizza a week, but it’s one of the top
selling pizzas we make for slices on the weekend.”
Guppy’s was off to a bumpy start when it opened, however. Gupton said the
cooler broke when the shop first opened, so they had to use their marketing budget to cover the expenses, which led to more issues. The financial stress put
them in danger of closing in November, shortly after opening in September.
With support from the community and a generous helping hand from another business, Guppy’s got back on track. Jordan Hendrington, owner of Bug
Eyed Betty’s recalled being in a similar situation and made a Facebook post on
November 25, to encourage customers to eat at Guppy’s instead.
Since then, business has been booming and Guppy’s is making its presence
known on Water Street. The pizza joint has been receiving positive feedback
from college students as well.
“The owner was so nice and gave out deals to students who participated in
SCORE (Student and Community Outreach on Rental Efficiency), so not only
were they promoting their new pizza establishment, but encouraging college students to be more green,” Betsy Bain, UW-Eau Claire junior, said.
Hendrington said he is excited for Guppy’s recent award recognition.
“It’s awesome, I’m incredibly happy for them. I’ll always do anything I can to
help out local businesses, so I’m happy to see them succeed.”
Thank you to the 2015 Our City Sponsors! Thank you to the 2015 Our City Sponsors! he 41st Annual Viennese Ball –
➢ TFriday,
April 10 and Saturday, April 11
Bigger prizes to be awarded
in Jump-Start competition
Coming up
The Viennese Ball is a formal event recalling the romance and elegance
of 19th-century Vienna, Austria. The event is presented in duplicate
each evening and is a much-anticipated fundraiser for music, service and
international study scholarships for UW-Eau Claire students. For more
information visit: www.uwec.edu
8th Annual Eau Claire Jazz Festival –
➢ 4Friday,
April 17 and Saturday, April 18
Applicants to the Jump-Start Business Competition will have the chance to win
some great prizes this year.
“Thanks to increased sponsorships, Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. is able to provide
some new and exciting prizes for this year that will be beneficial to any start-up
business or to a business that is relocating to the downtown area,” said City of Eau
Claire Business Assistance Specialist Elaine Coughlin.
Jump-Start is an annual business competition for people looking to start or relocate their business in downtown Eau Claire by May of 2016.
The grand prize includes $5,000 cash for start-up capital, a DECI media package,
and a two hour creative marketing session with JB Systems. JB Systems is also giving the grand prize winner one year of free website hosting and a $250 credit towards a branding project. There will also be an Honorable Mention awarded that
includes $500 cash, media package, and three photo spins and a year of hosting
from Spin Vision. One applicant will also win the Innovative Idea prize which includes a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Entrepreneurial Training Program with
the Small Business Development Center.
“A panel of six expert judges including financial representatives and business
plan consultants will review the submitted business plans,” said Coughlin. “They
will choose the best three, and the applicants will then get the chance to pitch their
ideas to the judges in person.”
“We are so grateful for the Jump-Start opportunity which helped us relocate
Offbeats Violin and Guitar to the heart of downtown Eau Claire,” last year’s winner
Rose Vincent said. The 2013 winner, Colleen Weber, is thankful that the Jump-Start
competition brought her business, the Smiling Moose Deli, media recognition and
advertising that lasted almost two years!
If you would like to participate in the competition, please visit
DowntownEauClaire.org and click on the “doing business” tab for entry criteria.
The Eau Claire Jazz Festival is a two-day music festival featuring student
competitions for middle school, high school, and college ensembles, as
well as jazz events for the entire community to enjoy. The Eau Claire Jazz
Festival is a production of Eau Claire Jazz, Inc., in partnership with UW-
Eau Claire, and brings jazz music and culture to Eau Claire area residents
and visitors. It’s one of the oldest and largest jazz festivals in the country.
For more information call, 715-836-4092 or visit: www.eauclairejazz.com
eanne Richie Memorial 5K Puddle Jump –
➢ JSaturday,
April 18
The 5k run/walk is held at Phoenix Park. Proceeds from the events will help
fund Longfellow Elementary School’s After School 21st Century Community
olunteer Expo –
➢ VWednesday,
April 22
This free event is hosted by the Chippewa Valley Volunteer Coordinators
Association and will be held at the Hobbs Ice Center in Eau Claire. This
is free to those who would like to learn about volunteering organizations
and opportunities in the Chippewa Valley. 10am-3pm.