Happy Tuesday and welcome to the Streetwise newsletter!
If you've been through Plover on County B in the last five weeks, you noticed all of the construction barrels, signs and detours. I spent the last couple of weeks talking with business owners along that stretch of highway about how the construction has affected their business, and I talked with village staff, the Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Portage County Business Council to see how they've worked to make sure people know how to get to those businesses. Some places have seen their business drop by almost half of their normal profits, while other places have seen little to no change. Construction will continue through November.
A few of you asked what's happening at Walmart in Wisconsin Rapids. I connected with the director of corporate communications for the company, who told me a renovation project is set to start this summer and will take about four months to complete. The project won't affect shoppers, though; construction is planned for after hours. The changes are part of the company's Store of the Future project, including enhancing the grocery pickup and delivery department, updating the pharmacy, adding a new Grab & Go section, expanding deli and produce sections, adding "community focused" food and merchandise and renovating its apparel section.
The Store will end operations of the convenience store at the end of July. Team Schierl Cos. announced in May 2022 it would continue operating the convenience stores after selling the buildings and properties to a real estate investment trust. In that deal, The Store kept all of its operations, employees, equipment, partnerships with local vendors and all local inventory. A month later, Team Schierl announced it sold The Store brand to West Hill Ranch Group, a Florida-based company that's a division of Mountain Express Oil out of Georgia. The new owners of The Store took over that summer. In its announcement, it said it would end operations at the end of July, The Store said Mountain Express Oil declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September and has since moved ownership of land and buildings to a property investment company. As of May 7, The Store was told that company won't extend the current operational agreement. A spokesperson for The Store told me there are efforts in progress for the future of The Store, but she was unable to clarify further. The brand has 25 locations in Wisconsin and Michigan.
King Cone recently announced it closed its Amherst location to focus entirely on its Plover location. The King Cone brand originated in Amherst 40 years ago in the former Amherst IGA store on Main Street, according to its website. In 1989, it moved to the corner of Wilson Street and County KK in Amherst. King Cone opened at 2534 Post Road in Plover in 2011, and in 2016, it opened a third location on Baker Street in Wisconsin Rapids. King Cone announced last May it wouldn't reopen the Wisconsin Rapids location. The closures of the Wisconsin Rapids and Amherst locations pointed to the difficulties in staffing three locations.
I also shared Streetwise updates for businesses in both the Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point areas.
Mama Elda's is for sale in Plover, The Wooden Chair in Stevens Point now offers delivery, Sheridan added a new machine to its Worzalla facility in Stevens Point, and Sentry Insurance has received recognitions for being a top employer.
Hawaiian Tanning Studio is open at its new location in Wisconsin Rapids, Lake Aire Supper Club is open for the 2024 season and Gremler's Bakery is now fully open.
Stevens Point Brewery's new $1.1 million Hospitality Center is now open. The construction project added a new tap room, gift shop and sampling room for both residents and visitors to spend their time. The project itself honored the longevity and history of the almost 100-year-old building, including repurposed materials like glass from the original windows and displaying vintage signs.
Earlier this month, the Plover Area Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded almost $60,000 to local organizations and businesses through its new Go for It Grant program. The initial grant cycle launched in January, and the CVB chose proposals that had plans to enhance both resident and visitor experiences in the area. The grants went to projects or events that would enhance the Plover area, including development or marketing efforts that would attract tourists and overnight stays.
A couple of weeks ago, ND Paper announced it closed on an asset purchase agreement with Billerud Wisconsin that stated ND Paper will own and operate the Water Quality Center, associated landfill and landfill assets. The announcement stated the water quality center is essential to ND Paper's work at its Biron facility, and the agreement ensures the Biron facility will remain part of the Wisconsin Rapids area and will be able to continue its production uninterrupted. The five employees who run the facility will join ND Paper.
Would you try a blueberry doughnut-flavored potato chip? You will have a chance to try Blueberry Dunker-flavored potato chips at Kwik Trip starting this weekend. Kwik Trip announced the new product Monday, revealing the new URGE potato chips, hitting the shelves May 18. They'll only be available for a limited time. The snack is a nod at Kwik Trip's popular Blueberry Dunker Donuts, which debuted in 2013.
If you have any questions or tips for future stories, send them my way at cshuda@gannett.com. If you’re interested in my colleagues’ or my coverage, please consider subscribing to the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune or the Stevens Point Journal.
Who is Streetwise?
I’m Caitlin Shuda, the Streetwise reporter for the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune and the Stevens Point Journal. If you’re interested in openings, closings, relocations, expansions and major developments, Streetwise has it covered.
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