When Watel’s, the charming cozy French bistro in the Allen Street Cottage closed on April 12th, many insiders felt owner Rene Peeters was getting out of the business. He has spent the last few months holding special occasion meals at different locations around town. Today, he outlines his new grand plan. “I have signed leases in the Lower Greenville area,” says Peeters, “Within the next few months I will open three venues.”
First, he’s opening a café and market with casual dining at moderate prices. “The recipes will be a reflection of my world upbringing and travels,” said Peeters. “Some dishes will be authentic; some will be creative. The size of the portions will be suitable for mezze-tapas-sushi bar-style dining. The menu will change daily.” The market side will be small and feature food and nonfood items from around the world. There will be pastries, breads, prepared dishes, and deli dishes all made on premises plus canned, jarred, and dry goods. Other items include “trinkets and practical items” from around the world. Peeters describes them as “fair-market-minimal-or-no-middlemen-eco-friendly-green-hipfit-help-poor-tribes” items.
The café and market will be called World Piece.
Next door, Peeters will open an antique store and art gallery that will double as an events space. “I hope to call it “A Few of my Favorite Things,” says Peeters. “I hope I don’t get sued by Rodgers or Hammerstein estates.”
His third business, on Lewis Street near Greenville, will be the reopening of Watel’s, a white tablecloth dining room also available for private parties and events.
