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SOLON SPRINGS — Brunches, a new restaurant in Solon Springs is turning up the wow factor.
“We’re kind of hoping for the ‘wow effect’ when you walk in the door, that ‘wow’ effect when you eat your food,” said owner Chrissy Wiles. “And then you leave and you have some food in a to-go box and you’re just like ‘wow’—You want to come back.”
From her office window across the street, Mick Salmen has been watching the new restaurant take shape. She’s not the only one who was curious as new tables went in and work crews transformed the former KD’s Family Restaurant building into Brunches.
“Everybody’s been so excited to find out what’s happening,” said Salmen, executive director of Lucius Woods Performing Arts Center.
Friends have called for updates as the work progressed.
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“I’ve been watching the painting—I love the new color—and all the construction going on. It was like ‘What’s happening now, Mick?’ Hold on. Let me look,” she said.
The business opened its doors Thursday, April 28; Salmen stopped by the next day. Wiles said she did a lot of refreshing and replacing, aiming to give the space a new look. Mission accomplished, Salmen said.
“It really looks sharp. It really does,” she said.” So light and bright.”
For Wiles, it’s a dream come true. She’s worked in the hospitality industry for most of her career, the last five years as district manager for the Poster family, which operates two KD's restaurants in Superior. The Solon Springs building has been sitting vacant for two years. The Poster family proposed leasing it to Wiles.
“They really wanted this open again,” Wiles said, and they’ve been gracious. “I have many hands that have helped me to get here. It’s been a collaboration for sure. Very, very blessed."
Brunches offers breakfast and lunch five days a week, as well as dinners three nights a week. Customers can expect fresh, homemade food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Specialties include house salads in hand-fried taco shell bowls, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, smoked salmon eggs Benedict and quiche when available. Their Friday fish fry is hand beer-battered and dusted, served with homemade clam chowder. Daily specials will be offered.
Beer and wine are available with meals, and a full bar is expected to open by July. Wiles said Brunches will also serve homemade pastries in the future. The restaurant currently employs eight people. Both dine-in and take-out meals are available.
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One of the Brunches centerpieces is a huge aquarium, where a trio of shop fish swim. One of them, a flower horn Cichlid named Frank, will even follow a finger waved back and forth outside the glass walls. Wiles said she hopes to start a brag wall where young anglers can post pictures of their prize catches.
Local businesses have welcomed the new restaurant. A pot of flowers on the front counter came from the nearby St. Croix Inn; the Little Gift House sent cards for them to display.
“We have been to the Mercantile every day, they have been amazing,” Wiles said. “Every business, even the local restaurants and taverns around here, have been very supportive.”
As Salmen sat down to order, Dave Wicklund of Solon Springs walked through the door to visit with Carl Wahl.
“I just had breakfast an hour ago,” Wicklund said, a special-order fried egg and cheese on toast. It was, he said, “Excellent.”
Brunches is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Call 715-378-2265 for to-go orders or to reserve a table. Visit the Chris Wiles Facebook page for more information on Brunches.
