Tongeren Seven months remained Au Phare, one of the oldest cafés is also a concept in Tongeren, by a failure of the previous operator closed. As long as had Tongenaren their favourite pub to miss. At the end of the month the volkscafé back open. Yves Knaepen (31), and Bart Nicolaers (45) Au Phare a second life. “It was our favourite pub that we now breathe new life into” trust the duo. The are no “bleukes”! On the contrary, they both have a lot of experience with running a café. Yves baat café De Chile, Bart runs the Infirmary of the Beguinage and the cafeteria in the municipal swimming pool on Pliny. A similar vision
Bart suggested as a candidate at the brewery Martens to Au Phare to rent. A little while later, also Yves. “When I heard that Bart was interested, I immediately contacted,” explains Yves Knaepen us. “It clicked immediately, and we share the same vision to the Au Phare back of the café of yesteryear. We are now good friends.”
A brown café
Currently they are busy getting the café that neglected beaches a thorough brushing of the teeth and a nostalgic look. “It is necessary, having regard to the seven-month leegstaat. We have a lot of dust to sweep.” The two cafébazen know where they want to go with Au Phare. “The café has potential,” says Bart Nicolaers. “We want to make it back to a brown café with the authentic look of the past. We are going for a cozy and warm cafe with music in the background and good beers (from a choice of 80 different beers, especially Limburg concoctions).” he fills in. They want the time in Tongeren frequent oneliner “We go to the Phare (in Tongers dialect, the f’a’ar, which probably refers to the beginning of the last century when in the City the electric street lighting was installed) back established hits.
Authentic
First, Yves and Bart are still working hard to make Au Phare back to open. “We have the old furniture from the time when Yves Frère (he has long Au Phare operated and put on the map) found.”, according to Yves Knaepen. “That we go back into the café. The furniture we have already sanded and stained. Against the wall we install a Chesterfield sofa. The chairs and tables in the café, and we move to the first floor. There we have set up a multi-purpose space. There, we offer the through the city launched especially for the tourists compound menus. Also there can be small celebrations, luncheons or baby showers continue.Bart is a cook and will be in the kitchen. In addition to the tourist menus we provide for Bruegeliaanse snacks.” Yves and Bart know the ropes with respect to the running of a café. “Okay, we’ll take a risk but it is a calculated risk”, let them hear. “It is not a leap in the deep. We believe in the revival of Au Phare. We have a strong formula. The café is not yet open, and we get the garden, and the reactions of Tongenaren who are glad that they are back to their favourite pub.”
