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Back in January, Liberty Hall was supposed to be sold to Stein's Garden and Home. That fell through. Here's an update on Liberty Hall today.(Photo: Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Reader question: I know the sale of the Liberty Hall property to Steins fell through. I see theres now a large commercial for-sale sign on the property. Is Liberty Hall closed for good?

Answer: No. Liberty Hall is open and has bookings, said owner Mike Van Asten. He said the for-sale sign indicates that the business will relocate.

The banquet facility is at 800 Eisenhower Drive in Kimberly.

Steins Garden and Home previously wanted to buy Liberty Hall for a second Fox Cities nursery and garden store. It backed out during the coronavirus outbreak.

But the idea was planted that the property was desirable and could be sold. Outagamie County shows it has an assessed value of nearly $2.4 million for the 4.4 acre property and building.

If sold, Liberty Halls banquet business would move.

We never looked into the idea of moving before Steins brought the idea to us, said Steve Tremel, Liberty Halls executive chef and vice president. Were still pursuing that. Were looking at moving into a new, more modern place.

Liberty Hall opened in 1994, at a time when events were larger. The main ballroom can seat 650. It was common at that time to have 250 to 400 people at wedding receptions.

The new average is more in the 150 to 200 range, Van Asten said. Whens the last time you heard about an event that had 650 people?

In the COVID-19 era, he said weddings are still happening, but corporate, academic and government events are not.

Were getting bookings, but we have fewer actual events. Business is down more than 50 percent, said Van Asten. UWGB is an example. It has two dozen dates booked with us between now and the end of the year. All of those events canceled.

Liberty Hall hosted three weddings in July and has four booked in August. Theyre a combination of receptions booked a year ago, a few postponed from spring and several that came last minute after other event venues, including The Marq and Headliners, closed their doors.

Yesterday, we had a wedding with only 100 people. But because I have adequate space, it was easy to social distance the tables and the people and the dance floor. We were able to accommodate the current recommendations, Van Asten said.

Reader question: Is Little Chicago going to reopen?

Answer: Little Chicago Dining & Spirits reopened July 7 at N9650 Friendship Drive in Kaukauna. It had been closed for nearly four months during and after the time the safer-at-home order was in place.

Its new hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Little Chicago Dining & Spirits did reopen after the safer-at-home order was lifted.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Reader question: Is Koreana permanently closed?

Answer: No. It reopens today, Tuesday, at 4 p.m. for curbside takeout. According to a note on its door and on its voicemail, it was closed for a week through Monday. Its inside dining room has not reopened since the safer-at-home order was lifted. The restaurant is at 201 W. Northland Ave. in Appleton.

Reader question: Any update on the east side Panera? They havent worked on it for quite awhile.

Answer: The last time I checked on it, in late May, it was on hold. I havent gotten any updates since then from the building developer or the company.

Panera Bread signed a lease in January for this Buchanan/Darboy location, facing Calumet Street just east of Chipotle. The building was built and a sign in front indicates that it is a Panera Bread, the second in the Fox Cities.

But as you observed, interior work hasnt been completed.

If Panera Breads national press office answers my email, Ill put the companys response in a future column.

The Fox Cities first Panera Bread location, at 3320 W. College Avenue in Grand Chute, is open as usual.

Update

As reported last week, Bamboo reopened Saturday with takeout only. The Chinese and sushi restaurant is at 2230 E. Northland Ave. in Appleton.

Chuan Shun Chen, a member of the family that owns the restaurant, called Monday with more details.

The restaurant is open for takeout from lunch through dinner every day. Were not taking any walk-in orders. Its only online or over the phone, said Chen. We dont have a specific time when the dining room will be open. Will depend on how well they get COVID under control. Hopefully soon.

He said the restaurants late reopening was because the family could not get flights back to the U.S. after being overseas. He said they intended to come back in March, but were stuck until about a month ago because many flights had been canceled.

He said after being closed so long, the restaurant went through another health inspection before reopening.

Bamboo is open for takeout only in Appleton.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Followher on Twitter at@wallenfang.

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The Buzz: Is it open or closed? Five answers - Post-Crescent