Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and the Valparaiso City Council are unanimously optimistic about two new dining options planned for downtown Valparaiso.
Alec Emmons and his fiancée Tatjana Hess, both graduates of Chesterton High School, are transitioning from a move from Carson City, Nevada, back to Valparaiso. The couple already operates a sports video and gaming activities center called The Golf Lodge in Carson City and plans to launch a second location at 15 N. Washington St. next to their planned German restaurant Alpen Haus in the vacant storefront at 13 N. Washington St.
The joint storefronts at 13 N. and 15 N. Washington, the latter address formerly occupied by Aftermath cidery and winery, are planned to be converted into a side-by-side German restaurant and sister operation virtual golf, dart and gaming center in early 2026. (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)
“We know there is a market open for something like this restaurant and gaming concept,” Emmons told the mayor and council members at the Aug. 25 city council meeting while presenting the proposal.
“We plan on having about 2,500 square feet dedicated for the restaurant, about 60 seats or more, with comfortable dining that includes tables, high tops and booths. The restaurant will have a commercial-grade kitchen built by Chester, Inc.”
Emmons and Hess explained that they are in the process of purchasing the building where the two storefront spaces are located, and there are three second-level apartment living spaces that will be included with the purchase, and emphasized, “This will ensure we are on property to oversee things 24/7.”
“We all know that Valparaiso has become a foodie town and international dining destination,” Hess said.
“I want to bring the authentic German dining experience that I grew up with here to Valpo with menu items like schnitzels, pretzels, sauerbraten, wurst sausages, spaetzle and assorted beer and strudel. Many of the recipes come from my own family, dating back hundreds of years in Stuttgart, Germany.”
Currently housed in the soon-to-be-renovated space is Aftermath, a cidery and winery, which opened in 2016 and closed after last weekend’s Popcorn Festival.
“We’d like our new businesses to be open by this winter 2026, once we’ve done our hiring of what we expect to be about 30 staff members,” Emmons said.
Council member Peter Anderson, R-5th, said he had difficulty envisioning how the two proposed businesses could be seamlessly housed under the same roof.
“We do intend to tear out the wall that currently divides the two businesses to open things up, but because of how we are utilizing our new design for the space,” said Hess, noting that 2,500 square feet will be devoted to Alpen Haus and 2,700 square feet for the sister business branded as The Golf Lodge, “there can be diners enjoying a quiet romantic dinner on the restaurant side and families having their own fun on the golf video simulators and dart boards.”
Emmons and Hess, who said they plan to marry next year, said they wouldn’t be “investing into a multi-million dollar real estate purchase,” in addition to “writing a $10,000 check for the issuance of a liquor license” if they were not serious about the vision for Valparaiso.
Following the presentation, the council, guided by city attorney Patrick Lyp, recommended Emmons and Hess prepare their “written commitment” for the project to accompany their liquor license application for the council to then provide their formal vote.
At the same council meeting, Chris Pavlou, owner of Radius restaurant at 15 E. Lincolnway, which opened in 2016, gave a presentation to the council unveiling his plans for a large expansion and renovation to his current space, requesting an amendment to his existing liquor license.
“I want to expand Radius to a larger space because I hate turning away people,” Pavlou said during the Aug. 25 council meeting.
“I love where I am now, but it’s just too small, and this will be more jobs while elevating Radius to upscale dining. This will double my seating, and this expanded space is just a couple doors away from where I already am, and it’s a corner space. I’ve been in the restaurant business for 25 years and through 20 restaurants.”
Pavlou’s presentation included an artist rendering depicting high vaulted ceilings, new tables and décor and a large, rounded bar with ambient lighting, along with an “open concept kitchen,” all housed in the large corner space on the same block at the intersection of Franklin Street and Lincolnway.
The council unanimously approved the proposed resolution granting the needed address amendment to the alcohol beverage permit, which applies to Pavlou’s restaurant operation.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Dining and Cooking