Source: Melissa Kaye
Feb 19, 2025, 6:01 PM CST
Port Edwards, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – Community is the focus at El Café in Port Edwards. The quaint restaurant owned by Fidel Perez features unique menu items with daily specials. Fidel and his team not only focus on great food, but also building up the community.
The BBQ fundraiser on February 15, 2025 raised money for Tony Perez. Tony served in the Navy for over eighteen years. During the last decade, Tony worked as a local postman and became a friend to many on his mail route. Just a short time before Tony was set to retire, he was in a tragic accident that left him a quadriplegic. This required his wife to leave the workforce to care for him full time. The money raised by the BBQ fundraiser will help with renovations to their house. It needs to be wheelchair accessible and equipped for Tony’s continued care. Once this work is completed, Tony will be able to come home.
Fidel heard about what had happened to Tony from another friend. He wanted to help in a bigger way than just a donation and the BBQ fundraiser idea came about. Fidel said these kinds of events bring the community together and everyone feels good about helping their neighbors. The El Café regulars turned out as well as new-comers to the restaurant. Many of the new people came because they knew Tony from mail delivery and they wanted to help. Fidel said they sold close to 280 meals in just four hours and most of them were take-out meals. Fidel gives thanks to his crew at El Café and God for making this and other community building events possible.
El Café will be celebrating two years on February 28, 2025. Fidel said having a place where community members gather has always been a dream of his. When he opened the restaurant, he wanted it to be a place where people could meet their neighbors or catch up with friends. The café is that place for many as well as book clubs and Bible study groups. Fidel says he’s a big community guy and everyone is always welcome at El Café.
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