Page 20 2025 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2025 Gillette Ransom said Peter and Andrea Niehaus retrofitted the buildings to be a gift shop but decided having a restaurant too would bring more people in. Ransom said their shop adds to the downtown and keeps it alive. They are good neighbors in both the business and residential district. In the back of these stores is the Wild Hare Café. The café serves sandwiches, soups, salads, dessert and beverages. Peter Niehaus also makes Sunday comfort food specials like Beef Curry and Swedish meatballs. Though the café is only open a few days a week, it is a popular stop bringing in people from nearby towns. Its location on Route 66, right off Interstate 55, makes it a popular draw for people from all over. When people eat in the café, Peter Niehaus often stops by the tables in the restaurant to talk to the customers. At the Elkhart Historical Society Dinner Lectures, Peter and Andrea Niehaus often make specialty dishes like curry. The menu for the August 24 dinner lecture included Chicken curry with sides such as chutney, tomato and onion and cucumber with yogurt followed by dessert. Peter Niehaus went around to each table to describe what they had made. Gillette Ransom said they have been part of the team of merchants in the village who have worked together for many years to produce events like the spring fling and fall art tour. Something else Ransom said is that when Peter and Andrea Niehaus help with EHS dinner lectures serving food and hosting the lecture keeps money in the village. It also gives society a boost, plus saves them money. Irene Ralph of Springfield has eaten at Wild Hare Café and said she loves hearing Niehaus’ stories about German food. Ralph has German ancestors and she and Niehaus have shared stories with one another about the food their German grandmothers cooked. Elkhart Library Director Sarah Wilson said Niehaus is a nice guy and valuable part of the community. Bill and Kathy Cosby own Richardson’s Continue --
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