TEMPO 2: FULLY LOADED. Caffe Tempo is opening a second location on Oct. 3 on Water Street in Eau Claire.

Just two blocks west of UW-Eau Claire’s lower campus along Water Street, a new coffee shop with a familiar name, Caffe Tempo, hopes to be a place where people of all ages and a range of artistic talents can participate in developing and showcasing their artistry. The second Caffe Tempo, slated to open Oct. 3 at 508 Water St., will offer the same high-quality coffee, juices, baked goods, and healthy snacks as the original location (315 E. Madison St.) as well as the signature baby grand piano that anyone who knows how to play is welcome to perform on.

What will differ from the original café are the furnishings and atmosphere. Owner Paul Edward Wiersgalla will take a less polished approach to the décor at the Water Street location to make it look and feel like a cool college hangout.

Starting at the front of the space – which most recently housed Gaming Generations, a video game shop – the main stage will showcase more polished local acts looking to share their talents with the rest of the patrons. Signing up to use the stage can be done at the café. Wiersgalla envisions artists of all ages contributing their work to decorate the walls of the room. “I want to encourage artists from all area schools, including high schools, to contribute their work,” he said.

Down the hallway, a room called “The Flop” will be “a place where anything goes,” according to Wiersgalla. “If they spill coffee, I don’t care,” he said. “If they make a mess, I don’t care.” Although some limitations as to what will happen in the room exist, the true vision for the 20-foot-by-18-foot space includes a mobile performance platform where a student can take a no-risk approach to honing his or her skills. “I want it to be a place where people can get used to playing in front of other people,” he explained. “It is one thing to play at home; it is another thing to play in front of an audience. This space should encourage people to try out their stuff.”

Connected to The Flop will be a creative space where patrons will be able to store their art supplies or instruments for a nominal monthly fee. It is also a space in which those paying patrons can create arts and crafts while sipping on their mochas. This crafting area is yet to be named or really designed because Wiersgalla is hoping that some dedicated patrons will take the space over and make it their own.

Caffe Tempo’s hours will also different depending on location. While the Madison Street shop offers hours from 7am-midnight, the Water Street location will be open from 6:30am until bar close.

Caffe Tempo • 508 Water St., Eau Claire • facebook.com/caffetempo/