The original Riverside Cafe is closer to opening, but there’s one problem

The original Riverside Cafe at 739 W. 13th St. is closer to reopening than it has been since a fire closed it in July 2021, but owner Paul Cohlmia has one big problem.

“I’m trying to get employees,” he said. “That’s my struggle here.”

Specifically, he needs short-order cooks and waitresses — pretty much like most other Wichita restaurants.

A fire, which neighbors filmed burning intensely in the early morning hours of July 16, 2021, left a blackened, sooty mess in the back of the building but did no damage to the dining room, Cohlmia said at the time.

So why has it taken so long to reopen?

“It’s mostly my fault,” Cohlmia said. “I’ve gone through three contractors.”

He said the insurance claim for the fire was fairly big, but not big enough to have someone manage the rebuilding of the restaurant. So that’s been the holdup.

Now, complicating matters is the lack of help, which most restaurants — along with a lot of other businesses — are experiencing.

Cohlmia said he’s been able to hire dishwashers.

Initially, he thinks he’ll start with abbreviated hours from about 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, “Unless I can hire a bunch of people.”

Cohlmia has two other restaurants, in west Wichita and Derby.

“It’s hard enough to keep employees there,” he said.

Cohlmia said he’ll let us know when he has an opening date.

Interested applicants can call either of his other two restaurants and ask for him.

“We’re almost ready to go.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2022 at 4:47 AM.