Streetwise: Dillinger's, Parrot Palms bought, Wells grows by 9,000 square feet
Sarah Razner
Parrot Palms, Dillinger's under new ownership
FOND DU LAC – Two of Fond du Lac's most vibrant properties are getting a new lease on life. Can you guess which?
One is brightly colored, while the other was once named after a gangster.
Have your answer? If you guessed Parrot Palms, 248 N. Hickory St., and Dillinger's, temporarily known as Schnickelfritz,1 S. Main St., you are right, Streetwise readers.
Ronald Boda purchased Parrot Palms in February and closed on Dillinger's Wednesday afternoon. Both had been closed for multiple years, and in October 2017, Parrot Palms was put up for tax sale.
The venues are not Boda's first foray into this market. In addition to owning land, storage units, billboards, single and multifamily homes, in the past two years he began buying these types of locales, sticking a "very significant investment" in to fix them up and "get them back on line," he said.
In the past year and a half, he has put more than $1 million dollars into the city of Fond du Lac and the surrounding area, he said.
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These Main Street locations include the former Pockets pool hall and bar at 119 S. Main St., which Boda now leases to the Puerto Rican and Costa Rican eatery Las Islas, and Ale House 2.0, 65 N. Main St., which he purchased last year and runs with his family.
Rather than opening as a restaurant once more, Parrot Palms will become an event venue, hosting birthday parties, weddings and more. Right now, plans are not in the works to change the name, said Boda, and if changes are made, they will be minimal.
The space will provide customers another venue to choose from in Fond du Lac. Unlike other venues, such as hotels, where guests could be unintentionally mingling with those from multiple events, Boda's location will be self-contained, he said. In addition to offering large indoor and outdoor spaces, there will be a shuttle bus available to take attendees to and from the venue.
As everything is in working order and relatively new, little work will be needed on the interior, with a focus on cleaning up the outside. Once complete, Boda hopes to open the space within 60 to 90 days.
The former Dillinger's location will take a bit longer. Boda plans to begin work on the exterior as soon as he can, with projects including a new storefront and new window. He will also install a sprinkler system inside, requiring water main work.
His goal is to finish the outside by the end of the year, to match with the opening of the Hotel Retlaw across the street. At that point, work will move inside, with plumbing, electrical and other renovations planned for the winter, and an expected 2019 opening date.
Once it does open, patrons will be treated to a Prohibition-era themed experience. Boda wants to keep the name Dillinger's, but has other names in mind if that doesn't work out. Décor and staff uniforms will fit the time period. With a full kitchen installed, Boda also plans themed dishes on the menu.Upstairs, he has considered including an escape room, fitting with the theme as Dillinger escaped prison multiple times, he said.
"It's always been that speakeasy hangout place and I want to bring it back," he said.
Stationed on the corner of Main and Division near the hotel and other upcoming renovations, Boda believes that Dillinger's and the neighboring businesses can help one another.
"We can create a very complimentary environment for all of us, not a competitive environment," he said.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, Boda cleared another hurdle for both venues as liquor licenses were approved.
When the new locations open, Boda hopes the public supports them like they have his previous ventures, including Ale House 2.0.
"We are a melting pot. We have every race, every age. Everything," he said. "I never thought that would happen but it did."
Wells Vehicle Electronics grows into 9,000-square-foot space
Wells Vehicle Electronics is growing its Fond du Lac footprint.
The company finalized a lease on a 9,000-square-foot location on 920 Trowbridge Drive earlier this year and moved in this past June according to Danielle Orlando, general manager of Marketing for NGK Spark Plugs (USA) Inc.
Wells traces its Fond du Lac roots back to 1903, when Robert Wells opened Wells Manufacturing at the start the automotive development, assembling and developing electrical parts for component suppliers and manufacturers of vehicles, according to its website.
The business expanded into the "automotive replacement parts market" in 1965 and in 1983, built an manufacturing facility for electronics. Here, products requiring a "SMART circuit board or electronic components to communicate (information) such as voltage regulators and ignition modules" are manufactured, said Orlando
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Expansions followed in in 1995 and 1997. In 2013, another was made as the company's headquarters moved beside the facility, from Brooke Street to 385 Rolling Meadows Drive, according to its website.
The company is now part of the "motor vehicle aftermarket," making components available through distributors and retail, currently, offering more than 37,000 parts.
The lease comes as part of the growth strategy established when the company was acquired by NKG Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
Based in Japan, NGK offers automotive sensors for internal combustion engines, spark plugs, cutting tools, bio ceramics, industrial ceramics and packages, according a press release regarding the acquisition.
Purchasing Wells, NGK felt "like there were a lot of synergies with the Wells Companies and their profit portfolio," Orlando said.
The leased facility will provide space for logistic operations, such as out-bound and in-bound shipping operations, and "storing inventory for components and end assemblies," Orlando said.
The new location will allow for more space at the manufacturing facility to expand, and fits the companies' plan to grow sales and market share.
"At the end of the day, we want to continue to evolve within the automotive aftermarket, within the US and globally," she said.
Streetwise heard
With the Fond du Lac County Fair running Wednesday through Sunday, some attendees may be worrying about navigating a maze of traffic cones and detours to get to the grounds.
But readers have no reason to fear! According to the City of Fond du Lac Public Works, driveways, sidewalks the paving of intersections, trails, parking lots, pavement marking and restoration were completed last week. While Fond du Lac Avenue will remain closed a while longer, the road will be open through the end of the fair.
Have a tip or a question for Streetwise? Let Sarah Razner know by calling 920-907-7909 or emailing srazner@gannett.com.