Hillside stores happy to see Uncle Loui's Cafe reopen
By JEREMY PIEPER
DCN Reporter
On April 19, 2007 tragedy struck Uncle Loui’s Café on 4th Street, propelling it out of business for the following seven months. This event has not only affected the café’s customers, but the numerous surrounding businesses as well.
“There was a fire,� said Penny Briddell, the owner of Uncle Loui’s. “The inside was totaled.�
A short in a refrigerator caused the fire that ended up causing massive smoke damage to the inside of the café.
“It couldn’t be fixed,� said Briddell. The café was forced to close for seven months so repairs could be made.
Uncle Loui’s reopened on Nov. 2 to the joy of not only their regular customers, but many of the businesses in its vicinity.
According to Briddell, Uncle Loui’s “benefits people in the surrounding businesses.�
Kate Hart, owner of Sunhillow Books said that business in her shop declined drastically when Loui’s was under repair.
“Boy did we notice it when it was gone,� said Hart. “I was lucky if I made $20 a day.�
Uncle Loui’s has proven to be a business that draws many people to the Central. This in turn helps to populate the area with people willing to explore the numerous small businesses in the area.
“People didn’t have a reason to come to this part of town," said Hart.
In fact, many small business owners noticed a decline in the number of people who frequented the area when Uncle Loui’s closed down.
Sherri Dunbar of Dunbar Floral and Gifts said, “When Uncle Loui’s wasn’t open there wasn’t as much foot traffic.� In general there were not as many people in the area to support its businesses.
“It’s good for business as a whole to have something prosperous in the area,� said Dunbar.
Although the café itself is quite quaint, Uncle Loui’s role in the community is far from small.
“We are a vital part of this community,� said Briddell. “It’s a business district. We’re a main artery to business in this area.�
The small café proves to be a main artery that provides life to its surrounding businesses and their owners.
“They certainly are a companion business,� said Hart with a look of satisfaction on her face.
“One kind of feeds off the other,� said Dunbar regarding the numerous small businesses in the area.
Through this café’s friendly service to its many customers, it has made itself a friend to the many businesses around it.