KIESTER — The Kee Kafe has only been in business less than two years, but in that short span of time it has already had quite the lively start.

Michele Alphs and her husband, Jerry, bought the restaurant, at 117 N. Main St. in Kiester, in 2013 and opened it in May of that year. On Aug. 29, 2013, both Michele and Jerry, who worked for the local fire department, were woken up by a page around 1:30 a.m. for their restaurant. Michele said that an electrical fire had started due to outlets being covered improperly with sheet rock by a previous owner. The damage closed the business until May 2014.

“There were lots of tears,” Michele said.

The building was originally constructed in 1940 as the Maple Cafe, due to it largely being constructed of maple wood. Michele said the cafe was open for many years, but after it closed it sat empty for a while. She said eventually the building was turned into a pizza place and much of it was remodeled. The pizza place was open for less than six months before the site sat empty again until the Alphs purchased it.

Michele is originally from Wells while Jerry is a Kiester native. They run the cafe largely by themselves with help from their immediate family. The cafe is open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. There are daily menu specials offered during the lunch hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Typical menu items range from burgers to roast chicken. There are also all-you-can-eat chicken and rib nights from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and all-you-can-eat beer-battered cod nights from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays.

Michele said the business is slowly getting into catering and hosts private parties, as well, and she decorates cakes, cookies and cupcakes that are sold in the café. Everything is made on site, down to the bread and hamburger buns used in the meals.

Having her own restaurant is something Michele said she has wanted most of her life, as she has worked in some aspect of the food-service industry since graduating high school. She said the hours and days are longer running their own business, but that they’re “well worth it.”

She said her favorite part of owning and running Kee Kafe is easily the people she interacts with each day, from local customers to the ones passing through. She said she has a pretty regular customer base, including the farmers that come in early each morning for breakfast and coffee.

“We’re very proud of our community,” she said. “Being a small community, we tend to stick together.”