The answer to two questions – "How did a woman from France and a man from Texas end up in Austin?" and "Whatever happened to the building that once held Buzz’s Coffee Cafe and Lounge?" – can be found in one couple and the business they opened on Nov.

Monday, January 08, 2001

The answer to two questions – "How did a woman from France and a man from Texas end up in Austin?" and "Whatever happened to the building that once held Buzz’s Coffee Cafe and Lounge?" – can be found in one couple and the business they opened on Nov. 15.

Adam Ansorge and Kristin Pape-Ansorge opened The Brickhouse and have been busy ever since. They were told when they opened the restaurant that they should be patient, becuase new businesses don’t usually do well for at least five years. But they obviously are the exception to the rule.

So far, the response to their opening has been more than enthusiastic. They have not advertised, yet word of mouth has kept a steady stream of business moving through their doors. When they aren’t busy serving their regular customers, they cater private parties throughout the week.

Their story starts thousands of miles from Austin and many years ago.

Kristin was born in Strasbourg, France, a city near the border of France and Germany. Her mother was from Norway, while her father was born in Sequine, Texas. Her parents met when her mother was studying at the university in Strasbourg and her father was doing research there.

Coincidentally, Adam was born in Sequine, Texas as well. Kristin and Adam attended middle school together in Texas for one year, and though they knew some of the same people, they don’t remember each other from that time. "He should remember me, because I was the little French girl," Kristin laughed.

They met again at Texas Lutheran College (formerly Texas Lutheran University). Kristin was studying biochemistry and nutrition at the university and Adam was studying science. They met and dated in college and then lost track of each other after graduation.

Kristin traveled to France and Norway, taking time to decide what she wanted to do with her life. She returned to school at Ohio State University to obtain her master’s degree.

Adam, too, went back to school to get his teaching certificate – to the University of Minnesota. After reconnecting and marrying, they moved to Austin because of a teaching job that Adam found. That was three years ago.

When they moved to Austin, Kristin was a researcher at the Hormel Institute, while Adam taught science at the high school.

Adam soon decided that teaching at the high school level was not something that he could do permanently. Kristin wanted a change as well. In particular, she wanted more contact with people than she was getting while doing her research.

"I loved the one colleague I worked with, but that was only one person," she said.

Kristin applied and was accepted to nursing school.

After attending for four days, she decided not to continue. Adam dabbled with the thought of getting his physical education certificate to work with elementary school students, thinking that another age group might better suit him.

After calling an academic advisor, he learned that obtaining the certificate would take approximately two more years of schooling, which was more than he was willing to devote.

It was at this time that Kristin read in a realty magazine that Buzz’s was for sale.

"We had no kids, no loans – why not get a new loan," said Adam.

They wanted to own their own business for a while, but as Kristin said, they "weren’t necessarily thinking of running one right now." After negotiating, the property was theirs.

According to records, the building is the oldest in Austin, built in 1858. Some of the brick on the outside of the building is original, but Adam and Kristin said that the changes made to the structure over the years probably mean that it will never be a registered historical site.

They said that Mark Nagle, the former owner of Buzz’s, "put in a good word" for them with his former customers.

"He told his customers, ‘You’ve gotta give them a shot,’" said Adam.

Also helping them to make the transition to Austin have been Adam’s relatives, with whom they have lived since they arrived. Pastor Arvid Jovaag of Grace Lutheran is Adam’s uncle. Arvid and his wife Lois have taught Kristin about running and caring for a farm.

Adam and Kristin live in the farmhand’s house, and Kristin worked on the farm while she was working at the Hormel Institute. She also worked at the Coffee House on Main, which taught her skills she uses now in her business.

Kristin said that Lois Jovaag has taught her how to garden and how to make jellies and jams.

"She is a great example," Kristin said. "She takes advantage of what nature offers and takes the time to point out to me what is edible."

She has transferred her knowledge and her heritage to the items she now sells at The Brickhouse. Panini sandwiches, based on a recipe popular in France, are one of the main items on their menu. The sandwiches are filled with ingredients such as portabello mushrooms, vegetables and eggs.

Items are made from scratch, including muffins, biscotti and cookies. Both said that their menu accommodates vegetarians. Every day they offer quiche, a soup and salads.

They also make Italian sodas, hot chocolate and gourmet coffees. They kept coffee flavors loved by Buzz’s clientele from Alakef Coffee Roasters in Duluth and have added some new flavors.

But The Brickhouse is more than a place to eat. Kristin and Adam stock handmade specialty items. Kristin knits wool socks and makes rags rugs. Adam’s brother, Seth Ansorge, makes handmade pottery. Virginia and Al Johnson make wooden and Scandanavian heritage gifts. Adam and Kristin want the items in the store to be constantly changing and they hope to display works by local artists. They would also like the restaurant to be a place for a French or Norwegian club to start and meet regularly.

They are open from 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Though they are running a business, both admit that they don’t consider their current occupation to be a job, like those they have had in the past: "We wouldn’t be doing it if it were work," said Adam.