Bistro To Become Natural Health And Spiritual Store In Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI — A Waukesha business owner, affected by construction and the pandemic, announced plans to rebrand her coffeehouse into a natural health and spiritual store.

Sarah Kirschling, the owner of Le Caffé Bistro, closed the cafe at S30-W24896 W. Sunset Drive. She plans to rename it Topaz Apothecary and reopen in November.

Kirschling bought the bistro a few months before the state shut down businesses because of COVID-19. Besides the bistro, she also owns Giggly Hugs Child Care Inc.

"When we lost our customer base during the pandemic, it really made it difficult," Kirschling said.

The bistro had customers who would stop in as part of their morning or lunch routines. When the pandemic shut down businesses, it was hard for customers to readjust to their old routines, she told Patch.

Sunset Avenue road construction began in March when many pandemic-related restrictions were starting to lift, she added.

Kirschling and her business partner, Danii Pochert, had been discussing opening a natural health and spiritual services store for several years.

At the end of the summer, Kirschling tried one more Hail Mary effort to save the bistro.

"When that didn't work, I knew I had to do something else," she said.

Pochert and Kirschling still had a lease for the bistro space. Pochert suggested a new store as a replacement. Pochert "said she thought this might be a good opportunity for us to launch this," Kirschling said. :We decided in one day we were going to do this."

Topaz Apothecary

Le Caffé Bistro closed in September. Topaz Apothecary has to go through the approval process through the village of Waukesha.

Kirschling said the store will focus on individualized wellness using more than 60 types of herbs in candles, teas, incense and lotions.

The store was going to offer 100 different types of herbs, but the pandemic has led to supply delays. Kirschling is on several different waitlists to get the other herbs, she said.

The store will also offer crystals and other jewelry.

"Our focus is to try and help people make combinations that will be supportive in their life," she said.

The store will also offer services such as "negative energy house clearings" and intuitive readings.