Mill Creek Cafe a bright spot in Clarence

Since opening last month, the Mill Creek Cafe has brightened up the main thoroughfare along the Lincoln Highway in this small Cedar County town.

Not only has the building's facade been renovated to reflect the way it looked when it opened as a cafe in 1896, homemade food is served with laughter inside.

“When stress gets high, we laugh it off,” said co-owner Jamie Wilhau, 38, of Clarence.

A year ago, a group of local investors began renovating the building which had sat vacant for several years.

Impressed by Wilhau's work spearheading a fundraiser for the Parent Teacher Organization in the North Cedar Community School District, the investors approached her about running the cafe.

Wilhau and co-owner Marcia Syring, 55, enlisted help from friends Annette Kanakares, 44, and Jen VanOort, 34.

“We're all in it together,” Wilhau said. “We're all partners.”

As the facade, floors and walls received a face-lift, the Clarence women worked on decorating the interior with a mix of old and new items, including a green chalkboard and tin ceiling tiles from the North Cedar elementary school in Mechanicsville, which was demolished earlier this year. VanOort replicated old Clarence advertising signs which hang above the new booths. She also made copies of old newspaper clippings and photos placed under glass on the counter.

The menu, which is written on the chalkboard each morning, changes daily.

With the women's busy schedules and families, the cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

“The locals wish we were open more,” Wilhau said. “We're just trying to get our feet wet.”

Clarence Postmaster Pat Chamberlain of Mechanicsville and postal worker Sue Siebels of Stanwood checked out the cafe for the first time last week.

“The area needed it,” Chamberlain said.

In the future, Wilhau hopes to expand hours and renovate the upstairs for more seating. But, for now, the women are pleased with the outcome and reception.

“We felt it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up,” Wilhau said. “Unless you do it, you're never going to know.”