Silver Skillet serves seniors lunch, monthly discussion; County supervisor hears desire for new restaurant
Where can locals go to get a good, American-style, family sit-down meal, now that Olde Templeton Inn and the Sussex Steakhouse have closed?
Where can locals go to get a good, American-style, family sit-down meal, now that Olde Templeton Inn and the Sussex Steakhouse have closed?
Senior citizens talked about local issues like these with Waukesha County Supervisor Robert Hutton at a senior luncheon Jan. 29 at Sussex Community Center's Silver Skillet.
Seniors told Hutton that there is a void in the community now that their favorite dining spots are gone.
Arlene Dillon, Lorraine Fackler and Lorraine Lowy of Sussex asked Hutton about future development, such as a new restaurant along the lines of a Perkins or Denny's, coming to Sussex. Hutton agreed there is a need for that type of restaurant, but said fans can still enjoy the Seigo's Templeton 2 Friday fish fry served by Olde Templeton Inn's former chef.
Sussex Bowl serves a fish fry, too, and locals can eat at Culver's, Quiznos and other local restaurants.
Andy Narr, president of the Sussex Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Sussex Community Development Authority, said in an interview later that week, "I am aware of the desire for a family restaurant for the lunch and dinner crowd, but this hasn't been addressed at the (chamber) board level yet.
"Sussex seems to be on the radar of businesses as we continue to grow," he added. "The chambers would certainly welcome this type of restaurant."
Village President Tony Lapcinski agreed with the seniors who spoke with Hutton. "There clearly is a need for a sit-down, American-style restaurant," he said. "There is talk of a restaurant at the Towne Center, at the former Marchese's Danceland property."
While talks with Taco Bell have brought no success, he added, village officials have been talking with other restaurants and franchise owners.
"We are trying to make some efforts to meet the plight of our dining public," he said.
"We are looking for developers to develop the two Main Street development sites," said Village Administrator Evan Teich, "and I'm always looking for restaurateurs interested in Sussex."
Other developments, such as Shopko and the YMCA, "are a go," said Hutton, but a proposed Bielinski Bros. development at the Mammoth Spring cannery site is "gridlocked." A former Bielinski executive who was convicted of having defrauded the company had been in charge of the redevelopment project.
Hutton was one of the weekday senior lunch program's monthly speakers, explained Megan Sackett, the center's recreation coordinator.