We sat down with Curt Tappendorf, owner of Schoolhouse 7 Café, to learn more about the café.
Schoolhouse 7 Café
12125 Cyntheanne Road
Small Business Saturday Hours: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Offers online ordering, curbside pickup, & carryout
Before Schoolhouse 7 officially opened its doors in 2019, many community members would pass by the empty, one-room schoolhouse while driving on Cyntheanne Road and Southeastern Parkway, wondering what it was and what it could be. When Curt and Sarah Tappendorf took it upon themselves to purchase the schoolhouse, it quickly became a place where community members could gather, be together, and focus on creating connections while enjoying a cup of coffee and delicious food.
“We want to make sure that people know that every time they come in, they’re welcome and they get a good greeting and that they feel like this is their home,” Curt said.
The Tappendorfs have contributed a welcoming environment for the community, delicious family recipes like Sally Jo’s sausage souffle and Grandma Jean’s chocolate cake, an event space, the preservation of a 122-year-old historic Fishers building, all while keeping the schoolhouse theme inside the building.
“We’ve got photos all around the café that show some of the historical images of activities that took place,” Curt said. “We have a picture of the very first class that went to school here in 1901… We took the exterior and wanted it to look just like it did back in the 1900s.”
When talking about the upstairs that was not a part of the original schoolhouse, Curt said, “We’ve had bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, and we’ve even had weddings. It’s an area that we want to have something that the community can gather and be part of it.”
Curt’s favorite thing about having a business in Fishers is the location. With the constant growth of the city, Curt has emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses.
“Local businesses give back to the community and we are a big sponsor of local activities and groups. We love supporting those people that help support us.”
