downtown grocery

featuring

FEATURING

photo courtesy wausau central wisconsin cvb

Recent Media // August 16, 2018

“Downtown Grocery reflects a strong community and commitment to healthy living”

– Wausau Pilot & Review

An Everyday Farmers Market, Kitchen and Bakeshop

WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN GROCERY * An Everyday Farmer’s Market with 100% certified organic fresh fruits & vegetables sourced locally whenever possible, an old-fashioned grocery, a community gathering place, and a Kitchen & Bakeshop. Located on historic “main street” in charming downtown Wausau, it’s family owned and run by a creative, knowledgeable, and friendly staff.

YOUR GROCERY LIST * Check-off items on your grocery list from our big selection of fruits, vegetables, groceries, bulk, spices & herbs, frozen, meat, dairy, wellness, and a Bottle Shop with beer, wine, and liquor.

PRODUCTS WITH PURPOSE * We love products that have a purpose — local, certified organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, cage-free, wild-caught, fermented, sprouted, foraged, small-batch, foodie favorites, easier-to-read ingredients, and made “closer to home!” Products that are fun, flavorful, “made without” (such as dairy-free, gluten-free, or vegan), performance or lifestyle choices (including paleo, fewer carbs, grain-free, alternative sugars), and for planning meals at home.

WHAT IS LOCAL? * When we say Local, we mean that we offer a big variety of everyday items produced in the Upper Midwest (WI, MN, IA, IL, MI) to support those whom live and work in our region. We intentionally source from as many local producers as possible to economically support our region. These producers are small businesses just like us, and the dollars stay in our region to create a more resilient and self-supporting Midwest community! Wow, those are great benefits for shopping for local products made closer to home!

Get your groceries* downtown at Downtown Grocery!

*and more including prepared foods, plenty of seating, convenient parking, and a unique two-story retail experience.

“We’re pleased to feature a unique selection of products, many sourced from farmers, producers, and manufacturers located in Central Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region! In cooperation with our customers and the many dedicated supporters of the region’s food community, we’re helping to grow the local economy and create a strong, vibrant, and self-reliant community.”

– Megan & Kevin

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DAILY MENU

DAILY MENU
SALAD BAR (Open M-F 11-3, serve-yourself)
– Walk-around Salad Bar. The Hot Bar will re-open in future.
HOT SOUP (Open M-F 11-3, served by Kitchen Staff)
– Two Soups Daily (call store 715-848-9800 to ask soup types)
GRAB & GO (Open Daily) sandwiches, salads, and entrees.
– Ready-to-eat Salads and Green Salads, choose a 2oz dressing cup.
– Ready-to-eat or reheat entrees and sides, such as Roasted Vegetables,
— and Lasagna, Rumple-de-thumps, or Sweet and Sour Meatballs.
HOT COFFEE (Open Daily) Brewed Coffee and Hot Water for Tea.
FROZEN SOUP (Open Daily) Homemade Soup in 30 oz containers.
FROZEN PIZZA (Open Daily) Flavorful Personal-size Pizzas.
BAKESHOP (Open Daily) Cookies, cakes, bars, and muffins.
STORE (Open M-Sa 9-6 | Sunday 11-4) Thank you!

 

KEY: DF (dairy free) | GF (gluten free) | Vegan (no animal products, no honey)
NOTE 1: Daily menu posted each morning, all items subject to change. While we provide options made without dairy or gluten, we still use peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, soy, eggs. Therefore, Downtown Grocery cannot make claims that trace amounts of common allergens may not be present in our kitchen nor facilities of our suppliers.
NOTE 2: Seasoning or “spiciness” in prepared foods. Our world-inspired menu includes unique selections seasoned to represent the region from which the item was inspired. Each guests’ palate is different, therefore, we do not intend to make any dish “too spicy” or “too hot” as seasonings are available at the Food Bar to season to your taste.

OUR

KITCHEN & BAKESHOP

MADE IN OUR KITCHEN * Enjoy world-inspired foods that are made-from-scratch using local & organic ingredients as much as possible.

SALAD BAR * OPEN M-F 11:00 – 3:00. Serve-Yourself. The Food Bar (including Salad Bar and Hot Bar) were closed March 2020 at start of Pandemic. The Salad Bar re-opened September 2022, and Hot Bar will re-open in future. Thanks for your patience.

HOT SOUP * OPEN M-F 11:00 – 3:00. Served by Kitchen Staff. Two soups daily, most are GF and some Vegan.

GRAB & GO * OPEN DAILY. Grab lunch, dinner, snacks, and Go! Choose pre-packed sandwiches, salads, entree’s, and sides to reheat. Add hummus, pie & pizza crusts, or frozen soups to heat & serve at home.

HOT COFFEE * OPEN DAILY. Brewed Coffee with beans from Midwestern Roasters, and Hot Water for Tea. 

BAKESHOP * OPEN DAILY. Enjoy sweet & savory or urges for chocolaty, crunchy, and berry-filled: granola, pies, cookies, cakes, bars, and muffins. Many selections are *gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan. (*kitchen uses peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, soy, eggs.) 

It’s Homemade Food and Fast, just Grab and Go! It’s “Downtown Tasty!”

DINEIN

LUNCH, DINNER, SNACKS

Dine inside or outside with plenty of seating on the main floor, in the second floor loft, or along the sidewalk! If you don’t have time to Dine-in, then Carry-out, its fast!

THELOFT

EAT, GATHER, LEARN

Relax in the warm and inviting ambiance of the loft space overlooking the kitchen and market. Spend time with friends and family to enjoy a meal and a beverage, and get work done using our WIFI. Downtown Grocery offers a wonderful place to eat, gather, and learn. Hey, it’s “Downtown Tasty!”

DAILY MENU

DAILY MENU
SALAD BAR (Open M-F 11-3, serve-yourself)
– Walk-around Salad Bar. The Hot Bar will re-open in future.
HOT SOUP (Open M-F 11-3, served by Kitchen Staff)
– Two Soups Daily (call store 715-848-9800 to ask soup types)
GRAB & GO (Open Daily) sandwiches, salads, and entrees.
– Ready-to-eat Salads and Green Salads, choose a 2oz dressing cup.
– Ready-to-eat or reheat entrees and sides, such as Roasted Vegetables,
— and Lasagna, Rumple-de-thumps, or Sweet and Sour Meatballs.
HOT COFFEE (Open Daily) Brewed Coffee and Hot Water for Tea.
FROZEN SOUP (Open Daily) Homemade Soup in 30 oz containers.
FROZEN PIZZA (Open Daily) Flavorful Personal-size Pizzas.
BAKESHOP (Open Daily) Cookies, cakes, bars, and muffins.
STORE (Open M-Sa 9-6 | Sunday 11-4) Thank you!

 

KEY: DF (dairy free) | GF (gluten free) | Vegan (no animal products, no honey)
NOTE 1: Daily menu posted each morning, all items subject to change. While we provide options made without dairy or gluten, we still use peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, soy, eggs. Therefore, Downtown Grocery cannot make claims that trace amounts of common allergens may not be present in our kitchen nor facilities of our suppliers.
NOTE 2: Seasoning or “spiciness” in prepared foods. Our world-inspired menu includes unique selections seasoned to represent the region from which the item was inspired. Each guests’ palate is different, therefore, we do not intend to make any dish “too spicy” or “too hot” as seasonings are available at the Food Bar to season to your taste.

OUR

KITCHEN & BAKESHOP

MADE IN OUR KITCHEN * Enjoy world-inspired foods that are made-from-scratch using local & organic ingredients as much as possible.

SALAD BAR * OPEN M-F 11:00 – 3:00. Serve-Yourself. The Food Bar (including Salad Bar and Hot Bar) were closed March 2020 at start of Pandemic. The Salad Bar re-opened September 2022, and Hot Bar will re-open in future. Thanks for your patience.

HOT SOUP * OPEN M-F 11:00 – 3:00. Served by Kitchen Staff. Two soups daily, most are GF and some Vegan.

GRAB & GO * OPEN DAILY. Grab lunch, dinner, snacks, and Go! Choose pre-packed sandwiches, salads, entree’s, and sides to reheat. Add hummus, pie & pizza crusts, or frozen soups to heat & serve at home.

HOT COFFEE * OPEN DAILY. Brewed Coffee with beans from Midwestern Roasters, and Hot Water for Tea. 

BAKESHOP * OPEN DAILY. Enjoy sweet & savory or urges for chocolaty, crunchy, and berry-filled: granola, pies, cookies, cakes, bars, and muffins. Many selections are *gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan. (*kitchen uses peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, soy, eggs.) 

It’s Homemade Food and Fast, just Grab and Go! It’s “Downtown Tasty!”

DINEIN

LUNCH, DINNER, SNACKS

Dine inside or outside with plenty of seating on the main floor, in the second floor loft, or along the sidewalk! If you don’t have time to Dine-in, then Carry-out, its fast!

THELOFT

EAT, GATHER, LEARN

Relax in the warm and inviting ambiance of the loft space overlooking the kitchen and market. Spend time with friends and family to enjoy a meal and a beverage, get work done using our WIFI, or attend a “lofty talk” event. Downtown Grocery offers a wonderful place to eat, gather, and learn. Hey, it’s “Downtown Tasty!”

SHOP

Local

Support your local community and the Upper Midwest economy (WI, MN, IA, IL, MI) by choosing products made “closer to home” to shorten the food miles from farm to store! Downtown Grocery is pleased to offer over 200 producers — farmers, roasters, distillers, cheesemakers, and many more — whom live and work in our region growing connections to the place we all live.

Fresh

We focus on fresh foods — fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, cheeses, frozen of every type, and foods “made in our kitchen” (with bakery and grab & go, including meal components like cubed squash or spiralized beets) to give more options for meal planning your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks! Find an everyday fresh food market at Downtown Grocery!

Grocery

Check-off your grocery list for everyday staples, pantry favorites, and interesting foods for tonight’s dinner — fresh & frozen fruits & vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, meats, frozen, dry goods & cereals, household items, and foods that are functional, performance-based, and lifestyle choices — such as vegan, raw, fermented, and “made without” common allergens! Stock up your everyday needs at Downtown Grocery!

Proteins

Pack your proteins! Choose from ANIMAL PROTEINS — beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, bison, elk, venison, rainbow trout, lake trout, whitefish, cod, and salmon — and a diverse selection of PLANT PROTEINS. Enjoy chilled, fresh frozen, canned, dried, sticked, hot-smoked, cold-smoked, powdered, and as a drink. Find more ways to enjoy your amino acids at Downtown Grocery!

Bulk

Buy in bulk and save! Select what you need by the scoop or by weight from Bulk Bins — including nuts, seeds, trail mixes, granolas, beans, grains, and flours — and from Glass Jars — including spices, herbs, and teas. Even more food choices are pre-packed in Reclosable Bags and Clamshells. Expand your options with bulk foods from Downtown Grocery!

Snacks

Discover a big variety of fun, unique, and healthy snacks for your adventures — such as tomorrow’s picnic, an overnight camp, or a long road trip to explore “… *the woods to feel good, the river to let {your} mind run, the mountain to gain perspective, the field to open up, the lake to reflect, the sky to imagine, {and} the highways to go someplace new* …”  (*Lyrics by Patchouli). Downtown Grocery, the snack oasis for your next adventure!

Bottle Shop

Discover our Bottle Shop for a unique selection of beer, cider, mead, hard kombucha, mixed cocktails, wine, and the “Spirits of the Great Lakes” with whiskey, vodka, gin, and more from the Upper Midwest. Have fun & create a “custom four pack” from our cooler doors and save 10%. Relax in our main floor, loft or outside seating to enjoy “on premise” a bottle or can of one of our unique beverages. Cheers!

Wellness

Complement your Good Food lifestyle with Good Wellness products! Offering Bodycare, Essential Oils, Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Homeopathy. For beauty, function, and regulation, plus calming, easing, maintaining, and supporting the overall health of your body, mind, and spirit!

Save

Save every day on your family budget! Take advantage of our Monthly Hot Deals, New Item Sales, Case-to-Go Program (save 10% on preorders of full cases of any item we can find), Four-Pack Mix & Match (save 10% on any four beverages), and give Gift Certificates (colorful paper gift certificates) to let your family & friends save, too! Everyday savings at Downtown Grocery!

Community

megan and kevin

COMMUNITY * Downtown Grocery’s mission is to be one of many dedicated supporters of the local food community; including farmers, producers, consumers, organizations and businesses. Each strives to connect people to place, open access to nutritious food, and cultivate healthy ecosystems and local economies. We seek that same harmony in our operations, such as purchasing goods sourced “closer to home” and composting “scrap & dent” produce to a network of community gardens. Be part of the change to renew our connection to food.

See you soon, and thank you! Kevin & Megan

“We feature local, regional and/or organic farmers and producers to nurture a community gathering place for sharing food ideas and growing a local food economy! Hey, by the way, farmer’s rule!”

– Kevin Korpela

“Food is more than the substance that fuels our bodies. Food is connection. Rooted in memories of people, places, and experiences; it links us to health, local and global communities, our environment, and much more.”

– Megan Curtes Korpela

Community

megan and kevin

COMMUNITY * Downtown Grocery’s mission is to be one of many dedicated supporters of the local food community; including farmers, producers, consumers, organizations and businesses. Each strives to connect people to place, open access to nutritious food, and cultivate healthy ecosystems and local economies. We seek that same harmony in our operations, such as purchasing goods sourced “closer to home” and composting “scrap & dent” produce to a network of community gardens. Be part of the change to renew our connection to food.

See you soon, and thank you! Kevin & Megan

“We feature local, regional and organic farmers and producers to nurture a community gathering place for sharing food ideas and growing a local food economy! Hey, by the way, farmer’s rule!”

– Kevin Korpela

“Food is more than the substance that fuels our bodies. Food is connection. Rooted in memories of people, places, and experiences; it links us to health, local and global communities, our environment, and much more.”

– Megan Curtes Korpela

HISTORY

(Click Images Below to Enlarge)

FOUNDED 2006

In July 2006, Downtown Grocery opened in a restored storefront, circa 1901, on Wausau’s Historic Main Street. It’s an Everyday Farmers Market with it’s own Kitchen & Bakeshop.

COMMUNITY INCUBATOR 2010

In 2010, initiated our Community Kitchen Incubator (currently not available for rent) to help start-up new micro-businesses including the Be Well Bakeshop.

EXPANSION 2013

In 2013, expanded into the adjacent storefront space to add more products, more seating, and more prepared foods “Made in our Kitchen!”

FIRE & SMOKE 2015

In September 2015, forced to close the store due to a fire started by a juvenile throwing a cigarette into the cardboard dumpster. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

STAY POSITIVE 2015 TO 2016

From 2015 into early 2016, Kevin & Megan worked to “Stay Positive” and communicate next steps with the community, such as to open a temporary home and create a plan to rebuild the old home.

TEMPORARY HOME 2016 TO 2017

In early 2016, opened a temporary home in the Wausau Center Mall Food Court, located only four blocks from the original store. This was our home while we worked on a plan to rebuild and return to our original home.

UNIQUE SOLUTION 2016 TO 2017

In 2016 to 2017, created unique solution: gutted interior from basement to roof (only four exterior walls remain), constructed a two-story space inside, and repurposed salvaged materials, such as tin ceiling & wood joists.

RETURN HOME 2017

In August 2017, reopened original home! Transformed a significantly fire-damaged interior into a modern industrial atmosphere with a unique second floor loft, larger storefront windows, and generous natural light.

Thank you for visiting and we appreciate your support!
Sincerely,  Kevin, Megan, and our creative and friendly staff!