The entrance to the renown vault at The Treasury in Ripon reminds customers of its original purpose. Customers can eat in the vault, however, reservations are encouraged. Connor Cummiskey photo
Bank turned restaurant offers unique dining options
by Connor Cummiskey
Located in the shell of a former bank, one of the more popular restaurants in Ripon, The Treasury, is the perfect place for casual fine dining.
The restaurant’s stone facade covers an elegant and comfortable dining room. It offers tapas (a variety of small dishes) and dining in The Vault, among other services.
“I think it is a beautiful fixture in the community,” Executive Chef Patrick Isajiw said. “Obviously, it is pretty breathtaking, if you ask me. I think there is a certain charm to it that is not really something you can replicate just anywhere. A lot of the fixtures are original, and it is really quite a nice layout. I am always in awe of it when I come to work.”
The restaurant is located at 114 Watson St. in downtown Ripon. It serves food Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The building has stood since 1930, when it housed the First National Bank of Ripon, which was chartered in 1856.
A series of businesses had taken over the building in the years between when the First National Bank left and the current restaurant opened.
“It has been a restaurant a few times before us and we reopened Oct. 8, 2011,” Isajiw said.
The history of the building combines well with the atmosphere and service of the restaurant, attracting diners from around the state and beyond.
“I think it has become a kind of destination restaurant,” Isajiw said. “People will come from Chicago through Green Lake. It just has a really great lure to it.”
One of the most famous attractions of the eatery is the room known as “The Vault.”
“A lot of the lure to here is The Vault,” Isajiw said. “People really enjoy that and is what most people talk about. It is actually the original vault and we converted it into an eight-to-10-person seating area.”
To eat in the vault, customers should make reservations. Aside from that, there is plenty of seating in the main dining hall.
The time a customer has to wait for a table can be passed by sitting at the ample bar.
The restaurant takes pride in its food specialties, making sure to use the freshest ingredients possible.
“Mainly, [we have an] emphasis on tapas, and then entrees and desserts,” Isajiw said. “We keep it local as much as possible. We change the menu once or twice a week, so it is really what is in season.”
The small size of the dishes offered at the restaurant and the regularly changing schedule are best for sampling a variety of food.
The Treasury of today is the product of a lifelong dream of the owner.
“Our owner, David [Dolata], grew up in Ripon and he was really infatuated with the building, even as a child,” Isajiw said. “He wanted to own it one day and when he had the means to do it, he bought the place and revamped it again.”
The stark, stone facade of the lounge reflects the spirit of the food served.
“It harnesses the philosophy of the restaurant where we try to create the best dishes that we can honestly and we try to use what is local and what is around us,” Isajiw said.
To make a reservation, call 920-748-2677 or visit its website at ripontreasury.com.
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