German cuisine and golf swings: Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge set to open Valparaiso location supported by Chester Inc

When it comes to golf, few achievements can top a hole-in-one. However, a new downtown Valparaiso business set to open this summer is ready to prove that two can be better than one, even in the world of golf. Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge is bringing together authentic German cuisine and indoor golf simulators under one roof, creating a one-of-a-kind destination in the heart of the city.

Alec Emmons, co-founder of Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge, describes the origins of their business prior to this new location.

“We have a location out in Lake Tahoe, and it’s just The Golf Lodge. We started it up about two and a half years ago as a cocktail bar and indoor golf simulator for friends and family members of all ages to hang out,” Emmons said.

Emmons grew up in Chesterton. His fiancée, Tatjana Hess, grew up in Stuttgart, Germany. She reflected on her lifelong dream as a kid, where she would open a German restaurant alongside her father. Today, she serves as a co-founder of Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge alongside Emmons.

“When Alec and I were looking for a spot for The Golf Lodge, we came across the old Aftermath location and Be Good Juicerie,” Hess said. “It looks like two different storefronts, but our new location has enough room for both in one space.”

The two figured that there was no better place to open up a second location than Valparaiso. With not many European cuisine spots in the area, this brought The Gold Lodge and Alpen Haus into one. Both brands combined quickly, and as Emmons said, the rest was history.

“We want to have a welcoming atmosphere for any of our guests that come in. Growing up with small business is in my blood, because my grandparents started the Water Way Pool in Portage back in the 1980s,” Emmons said. “We want them to feel at home when they come into Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge. We want them to play on the simulators for hours at a time, enjoy football games, or the Masters tournament on the big screen. I think that with Valpo too, it’s such a tight-knit community, and other businesses are supportive of one another.”

One business that has played a huge part in this new location project is Chester Inc. In fact, Emmons recalled when his grandfather built the original Water Way Pool & Spa over 40 years ago, Chester was there to bring that project to life. Several generations later, and the company is working with Emmons directly on a brand new endeavor.

“Chester has been really easy to work with. They have made the process very streamlined,” Hess said. “Anytime we have a question, we’re able to call any of them. They will immediately pick up the phone and answer whatever it is that we need.”

As of now, Emmons considers the Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge to be 95% complete.

“We’re putting on the final touches, training our staff, and we’re getting ready to announce the opening date,” Emmons said. “We’re pumped about getting some German bands in here to perform some live music too. Tatjana and I are over the moon excited, and it’s going to be so much fun on the grand opening date.”

To stay updated on the latest information regarding Alpen Haus & The Golf Lodge, or to learn about when the grand opening date will be, you can visit its Facebook page or website at alpenhaus.online.

For more information on Chester Inc., you can visit chesterinc.com.