Food+Drink

The Nucleus Expanding to New Storefront

with growth comes more seating, same delectable brunch

Tom Giffey |

The Nucleus: keepin' the crêpes in shape.
The Nucleus: keepin' the crêpes in shape.

You’ll soon have more space to sit if you’ve got a hankering for decadent stuffed French toast, a hearty Yeti Skillet, or simply some exquisite espresso: The Nucleus Café, 405 Water St., will soon be expanding into an addition storefront. The Eau Claire City Council recently approved an expansion of the café’s liquor license to include 407 Water St., a space most recently occupied by Artisan Tattoo (which relocated to Barstow Street). The expansion will give the café an additional 1,920 square feet, or space to seat about 50 more patrons. As part of renovations, the business will lose 25 seats to make room for an expanded kitchen and storage at 408 Riverside Ave., a dining room directly behind the soon-to-be occupied storefront. The expansion will mean that the co-owned and adjoining java joint – Racy D’Lenes Coffee Lounge, 404 Riverside Ave. – will be surrounded on three sides by the Nucleus. (There’s probably a cellular biology joke there, but we’ll let you make it.) Both the café and coffee shop are part of the historic, Gothic-style Pioneer Block built in 1882. According to documents provided by the city, the kitchen renovations are expected to be done by the end of summer. The newly expanded brunch bistro will maintain its existing hours: 8am-2pm Wednesday through Sunday.