With Kaladi’s and Camille’s, Sioux Falls couple makes mark on restaurant industry

Adam Wieczorek grew up smacking his lips over the desserts created by family friend Berdene Whipkey — luscious layer cakes, crisp cookies and creamy cheesecakes. So when he and his wife, Kayla, purchased Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe on 41st Street, it was only natural that they would ask Whipkey to supply the treats for the restaurant.

And when the Wieczoreks expanded to another restaurant, again, it was only natural that they install a refrigerated display case that can offer Whipkey’s desserts on a takeout basis.

It’s one of the few changes the Wieczoreks have made as they have taken on the challenge of operating three dining places.

Yes, three. Because this summer, in addition to purchasing Kaladi’s Bistro at 26th Street and Minnesota Avenue, the Wieczoreks opened a second Camille’s, this one in The Empire Mall.

It’s an ambitious undertaking, but Whipkey thinks it is a good combination.

“They work really well together,” she said of Adam and Kayla, who have been married for five years. “Kayla is just really peppy and out there. Adam’s got the financial business mind. They balance each other out. He reins her in, and she makes him go out of his comfort zone.”

The Wieczoreks met when they were in college. Adam had enrolled at Dakota State University after serving in the military.

Kayla was a student at South Dakota State University. They both took part in an intervarsity church group.

“You kind of hit me up,” Adam said to his wife.

“Mmm-hmm,” she replied. “At LifeLight,” the Christian music festival.

Adam was raised in Mitchell, Kayla in Sioux Falls. He had always pursued employment where he worked directly with people at places such as County Fair Food Store in Mitchell.

“I found that I do enjoy working with customers and helping them out,” he said.

Kayla’s employment history is “all over the place,” she said. She worked at Menards during high school and then in retail, at a bank and with children.

When it came time to find something they could do together, Adam knew he wanted to do something that again would help people. And while he knows satisfied customers are essential to a restaurant’s success, Adam also focuses on how he can benefit the people he employs, from the wait staff to the kitchen.

“I like to help team members, getting them from a situation where they might be struggling, then to a spot where they’re making a good impact,” he said. “When you help others, you really can impact their lives. I hope to see them get to the next step in their future.”

The Wieczoreks purchased the local Camille’s in January 2020. Kayla serves as acting manager there, while Adam described his role as human resources, payroll, “Mr. Fixit” and mentoring. While the first year was challenging with the pandemic’s onset and restrictions on dining out, the couple felt confident to pursue expanding operations.

Camille’s was a popular destination for Kayla, even before she considered entering the restaurant business, she said. She liked the atmosphere and the unhurried atmosphere the staff had supplied. Neither Wieczorek had dined at Kaladi’s in recent years, but they knew the reputation was stellar.

The chance to open a second Camille’s and to buy Kaladi’s, an established central Sioux Falls fixture, came together at almost the same time.

“When the manager of the mall proposed we open a Camille’s, Kaladi’s was already in the works,” Adam said. “Kaladi’s has been a staple here in this spot, and it’s a really good location. We looked into details, and it’s been improving year over year except maybe 2020. With the hospitals and colleges and businesses nearby, it has a really strong following.”

The second Camille’s opened first in July. Kayla recalls putting in 14 hours at work that day, showing up at 7 a.m. to put the final deliveries on shelves and returning home after 9 p.m.

“It was me and another employee and Adam, with other employees coming in later,” Kayla, 27, said. “It was kind of a busy day once things got going.”

Adam, 33, continued with his full-time job after the purchase of the initial Camille’s. He has since quit that to devote himself to the three restaurants. Tasks have included upgrading the lighting at Kaladi’s to make the atmosphere more welcoming. He did the work himself.

The other major change is that refrigerated case holding Berdene’s Homemade Desserts. Whipkey and Adam’s mother are good friends, and she has known him since he was a baby. She started making wedding cakes and desserts more than 30 years ago. For a time, she owned a restaurant in a Victorian house in Iowa. Upon her move to Sioux Falls, she installed a commercial kitchen in her home.

Whipkey was excited when she was asked to provide desserts for Camille’s.

“It’s a great fit for me. I love to bake, and I love to create things,” she said. “I get to sell it now all the time, not just for special events.”

The Wieczoreks have listened to Whipkey’s advice when offering desserts at Camille’s and Kaladi’s. Adam initially wanted to sell entire cakes, but Whipkey knew individual pieces would sell better.

Camille’s offers a layer cake flavor of the month and a cheesecake flavor of the month. The Wieczoreks let Whipkey use her expertise to pick the flavors. While carrot cake and chocolate layer cake are always bestsellers, she knows key lime cheesecake is popular in the summer while turtle and salted caramel cheesecakes have their fans now.

“Adam is so good to work with,” she said. “He lets me do what I want to. He doesn’t try to control the flavors I bring in. I was pretty shocked when I heard he was buying a restaurant because nobody in the family on either side has one, but he’s doing well. More power to him.”