Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Boone Fiala stands behind the new counter of the new business, with a new name, 5th & Elm at the Orpheum Theater. With expansion and kitchen construction, along with a new patio and other renovations, now complete, the new business conducted a soft opening this past week.

HANCOCK — After more than a year of expansion and construction, 5th & Elm, on Quincy Street, in Hancock, conducted a “soft opening” this past week. By definition, a soft opening, according to simpletexting.com, is the low-key opening of a new service, product, or place. Restaurant openings are typically associated with fanfare around the big night, but a soft opening is the main event without all the attention.

5th & Elm is located in the former Pic Theater, which has reverted back to its original name, the Orpheum Theater. It is where Studio Pizza has been located since previous theater building owner Mike Shupe purchased it, opened it as a live music venue under the original 1910 name of Orpheum Theater, and expanded the site to include Studio Pizza.

With the opening of 5th & Elm in the former theater lobby, owners Frank Fiala and his son and partner, Boone, have made some name changes and business changes along with additional expansion and construction projects. Its name is now 5th & Elm at the Orpheum Theater. Part of the business changes has included consolidating three ventures into one: 5th & Elm, Studio Pizza and the Orpheum Theater.

Boone said that while the name Studio Pizza has disappeared, the same pizzas are offered on the 5th & Elm menu, using the same recipes as those created by the former owner.

“While Studio pizzas are not being eliminated,” Fiala said, “in terms of branding, the Studio Pizza name has disappeared.”

Fiala said the father/son partnership purchased Studio Pizza and the Orpheum Theater as a package and have been operating Studio for the past two years.

The idea started back around 2015, said Fiala, when Shupe made the comment that if he ever sold the business, Fiala would be on his list of people he would offer it to, because Shupe knew Fiala could handle the Orpheum Theater aspect.

“So, he gave me the idea, and I actually had put together a plan where 5th & Elm, in Houghton, and Studio Pizza would basically be taking this over,” Fiala said.

When the 5th & Elm Coffeehouse location in Houghton was destroyed during the Father’s Day Flood in 2018, Fiala decided to call Shupe to purchase the Orpheum and the Studio.

For anyone not familiar with 5th & Elm, the name stems from its original location, on the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, in the village of Calumet. Begun by Frank Fiala in the early 2000s, the coffeehouse was located in a renovated gas station built in 1929. It served Fair Trade and organic Asian coffees, bakery, bagels, soup, ice cream. It then expanded into Houghton, also expanding its offerings.

Fiala said that while hours are currently being adjusted, 5th & Elm at the Orpheum is open every day except Wednesday.