Jeff and Novi Rickert, owners of Candle Nut Restaurant, are relocating the Indonesian-Malaysian eatery to 2101 Market St., in the same plaza as Port City Java and Burnt Mill Creek Billiards & Wine Bar. The space was most recently occupied by Southern Breakfast Café.
 
The Rickerts operated Candle Nut at 21 N. Front St. from July to December of last year, but decided to change locations for a number of reasons, according to Jeff Rickert.
 
“We felt a location closer to neighborhoods, as well as a smaller space, would better suit us,” Rickert said.
 
Rickert said that the lack of foot traffic downtown during the winter months, as well as the lack of free parking, also affected the couple’s decision. He is hopeful that the new space will make the restaurant more accessible to area families and increase carry-out sales.
 
Candle Nut’s menu will remain very much the same, with the addition of some new vegetable stir fry and shrimp dishes, as well as a new soup and appetizer. Customer favorites such as the beef Rendang and lamb and chicken curry will remain, and beer and wine will be served.
 
Rickert said the open kitchen at the new location will allow customers to view the preparation of many of the stir-fry dishes. There will be approximately 50-60 seats inside, with additional seating on the front patio.
 
Some minor remodeling is currently taking place, as well as the installation of some new equipment, and the Rickerts hope to open by mid-May. 
 
A spokesperson for Southern Breakfast Café confirmed that the café is currently undergoing restructuring, and details on a new location will be released in the coming weeks.
 
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