The sign still reads Golden Flame, but the iconic Manitowoc restaurant at the intersection of Calumet Avenue, Custer Street, and South 26th Street is officially under new ownership.
Nick and Mitch Fejza purchased the Golden Flame from Salvador and Sue Velasques after 42 years of serving up food to the masses.
But the Fejzas are not new to the restaurant business, as they have operated Fork and Knife on South 44th Street since 2011.
Their journey to this point is quite unique, as they both immigrated to the U.S. from Albania in 2004.
Nick tells SeehaferNews.com that they first settled in New Jersey, but after scouting out Manitowoc, they made their way to the Clipper City.
“The welcome of the community to us was indescribable,” he said. “Everybody supporting locals. That’s why we have been here for 15 years.”
And that welcoming feeling is what led Nick and Mitch to voice interest in the Golden Flame.
That, and the work the Velasques put into it for over four decades.
“The previous owner that they had for 42 years, what they built on that place, we wanted to continue (that),” he explained. “Be more successful in ourselves and help the community in the best way that we could.”
Many regulars at The Flame have voiced concerns about what changes are coming, but Nick and Mitch assured us that there is nothing to worry about right now.
“As we speak right now, the plans and the place will stay the same as it is,” he assured us. “We will work with this menu that he had…All employees will stay. 100%. No employees will lose their job. In the future, we will see.”
Mitch also voiced his appreciation for the local community, calling Manitowoc “one of the best cities around Wisconsin for sure, but maybe way beyond. That’s why we wanted to invest in Manitowoc.”
As we were going to sit down for the interview, the love the community has for the Fejzas was made clear, as several regulars congratulated them on the purchase and said how proud they were of Nick and Mitch.
