Cafe Mozart enjoying new balcony downtown

Ever since Cafe Mozart opened 13 years ago, there was a desire to add a balcony to accommodate outdoor seating in the summer months. This desire was borne by the fact that customers would time and again come into the restaurant asking to sit outside, much to the frustration of owner Christina Forchemer.

"We get a lot of folks come there and want to sit outside but we never had outdoor seating," she said. "We have windows looking out into the street, but we have always wanted a balcony."

Still, at the time, the prospects for adding a balcony seemed daunting. Not only the cost was a factor but also passing muster with the city's Design Review Board.

"The builder at the time told us not to do it," she said. "I didn't think it was feasible, plus the financial situation when you have a huge remodel. We really built a top quality restaurant so there wasn't much of a budget left."

But after more than ten years of the running Cafe Mozart, Forchemer felt it was time to push ahead with the project, particularly now that her sister Heidi was part of the Design Review Board. As it turned out though, the family connection on the board did not make things any easier.

"We were butting heads," she said of dealing with her sister. "She wasn't against me advancing my business, but said, 'you can't have a big balcony without something else over it.' It's a little balcony and I'm not going to re-do the entire building. It had to make financial sense."

In meetings with the Leavenworth Code Administrator Patrick Dalton, Forchemer learned it is possible to build a balcony onto the building, but only up to three feet. She quickly found out that wouldn't be possible.

After some experimentation, they discovered they could make it work if they were able to extend the balcony out four feet.

"Our builder, Bob Duncan, found a way for us to legally extend four feet out," she said. "We could put five tables out there that would hold a total of 12 guests."

The Design Review Board initially balked at the plans because such balconies are not common in Bavarian architecture. In Bavaria, Forchemer said you just don't see balconies protruding out much farther than the overhang of the roof.

In her research, she was able to find some examples of what she had in mind. As long as it was done tastefully, Forchemer felt it would pass muster with Design Review.

"They were completely easy on the colors, and materials. I knew exactly what they wanted. I know taste and quality wasn't a problem. It was just the logistics," she said. "I had to sell my sister and the Design Review Board, but once they realized it was being done in a tasteful manner, we were at a happy medium."

The Design Review Board said in order to make the changes, the nearly 100 year old building needed to be brought up to code. So, Forchemer was forced to remodel the entire facade because of the balcony.

Even though the project ended costing over $50,000, she is glad to have gone through the process.

"I was flabbergasted I had to re-do the entire building for just a balcony," she said. "I am glad I went through the design-review process, because without it, the quality of the Bavarian theme wouldn't be there. You have to have strict codes to keep this town authentic and beautiful. I'm glad they are there."

The construction on the balcony was completed last fall, and Forchember could not be happier. She said it has been huge draw, particularly during Oktoberfest and Christmas Lighting. It is expected the balcony will be open to the public April through November.

Forchemer calls it the first major facade remodel in downtown Leavenworth in at least the last ten years. She hopes more business owners look at what can be done to beautify their buildings and bring in new business.

"This is going to enlighten people about doing remodels, because they should do it. It's worthwhile," she said. "But watch what you get into before you do it."

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or IanD@leavenworthecho.com.