Eetcafé Dé Wieëtsjaf participant Festival 't Kirchroa va Mörje

From dream to execution

Micha had had a top business for years and everything was going fine until corona made its appearance. The catering business went flat and the doors of the café had to be closed several times. Not an easy task for an entrepreneur at heart, and a head full of ideas and work ethic is not easily put to rest. And what do you do then... dream. Dreaming about new ambitions, sustainable ambitions in this case. But the old building had reached its ceiling in terms of possibilities and the adjacent building at number 47 - the former Rabobank building - had been for sale for five years. Together with investor Frank Offermans, Micha brainstormed about a renovation and a new way of working for the neighboring building. A trip through the Netherlands followed and Wim Eussen of Brouwerij Rolduc also joined in as a sparring partner. The three gentlemen went to 'look over the shoulder' of various leading hospitality companies.

The new building was purchased in February 2022, and what followed were sketches, hundreds of ideas, and a selection of key points that the gentlemen set themselves: saving energy, limiting noise, and creating a business that would be future-proof for at least twenty years. Of course it had to continue to radiate Kirchroa and both the current and new clientele had to feel at home.

Sustainability gives energy

After the ideas and wishes were bundled, architect Ludo Widdershoven and interior designer Ineke Roosen set to work. The building was completely gutted and then rebuilt. The floor was raised 50 cm, the walls came in 50 cm and the ceiling was lowered 50 cm, all to make room for insulation. Under general contractor Graus, Coumans Installation arranged the entire air treatment. Heating and cooling with a heat recovery installation, all piping in the floor and nothing in the ceiling anymore. The extraction in the kitchen and the filtering of that air so that there is no odor nuisance for local residents.

Quite unique in the hospitality world is that Dé Wieëtsjaf is not under contract to a brewery and therefore has no obligations to one. The property is owned and that makes investing sensible. The eatery is off gas, has underfloor heating with heat pumps and the entire cooling system works through a central cooling system in the parking garage. Solar panels on the roof. And all that technology works with one computer system. A system that was on trial for four months, but has since "adjusted itself. Water-saving toilets, waste separation in all sorts of ways, a lighting system with LED lamps working on sensors and a cash register system with handhelds to even save energy of the staff. Sustainability down to the smallest detail, implemented and realized with as many Kerkrade entrepreneurs as possible.

Micha beams as he talks about his sustainable adventure and adds with a laugh, "The energy bills of both properties are the same, while number 47 is twice the size. A fantastic result!" He is justifiably proud of his "old" new business and is pleased that Kerkrade shares that pride. A new start in a new jacket, that literally gives energy for the future!

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Café Dé Wieëtsjaf, future-proofed

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m., you'll have a chance to see the business for yourself and ask questions during a presentation and tour. How Micha went from self-created mood boards to leading hospitality company in own management, it will all come along. After being welcomed with coffee/tea, Micha and co-owner Frank Offermans will show how ideas came to fruition and you will see not only the café, but also the technical area, kitchen, basement and parking lot. Sign up at info@euregiobizz.tv.

www.wieetsjaf.nl

For all 18 events of the Festival 't Kirchroa va Mörje from Oct. 14 to 21, see www.festivaltkirchroavamorje.nl