News: Withee – New Lunch Box Café Owners (Jan 1975)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kafton, Bowen

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 23 Jan 1975

New owners, Mr. and Mrs. John Kafton, better known and "John and Betty", opened their doors to business Monday of this week, the 20th, offering restaurant services to the Village of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.). The community has been without a restaurant the past year and a half when former owners, Mr.a nd Mrs. Lucius Bowen retired.

In opening the "Lunch Box Café" the Kafton's bring a background of experience to Withee in restaurant work, as they have been employed most of their lifetime in the preparation of foods.

They came here from Port Orchard, Washington, a community located near Tacoma. Prior to purchasing the Lunch Box they worked at Neah Bay, Washington, cooking in a fishing resort, and also numerous other places.

October of last year while on a vacation trip, they stopped in Withee to visit friends, and were urged to purchase the business. The transaction became effective January 1st, and they moved into the living quarters at the rear of the café on that date.

With them is a son, Dennis, 27, who is recuperating from surgery. His twin brother lives in Port Orchard, Washington, and a daughter who is married.

John and Betty Kafton are a capable and friendly couple, who in their spare time enjoy camping and traveling with their trailer-camper, and are anxious to have the public stop in and make their acquaintance.

The Lunch Box will be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, serving breakfast, lunch and early evening dinners. And a service the young people of the area will welcome, is that they are serving ice cream cones and malted milks the year around. Nowhere in Owen or Withee has one been able to purchase an ice cream cone or a malted milk during the winter months.