WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) — A downtown Wausau business idled by a structure fire two months ago is going back to work in a temporary location. Downtown Grocery owner Kevin Korpela says their 607 Third Street home is going to be closed for quite a while so repairs can be made from the September fire. He says look for them in January in the Wausau Center Mall.
Korpella says they will use two locations in the food court. “There are two separate units, but they’re inside the food court at the Wausau Center Mall. We think it’s just an ideal location for us. There’s a commercial kitchen already at the facility.”
Korpella is anxious to get back to work, and so are the approximately 20 employees of the Downtown Grocery. “So, for us to have an opportunity to within the start of the new year to return as many employees as possible back to our operations, we’re really excited about that, as well as, of course, we’re excited to serve all of our customers, the community in general, and all of our local vendors as well.”
Korpella says the temporary Market and Food Bar will remain open in the mall until it’s time to move back home. They will not have as much room as the regular location, but they will offer many of the favorite items. Korpella says they will have selections of local, Midwest, and fresh organic foods like what was found in the original store, plus prepared foods from a walk-around food bar with a hot bar, salad bar, and olive bar plus sandwiches, hummus, dips, and bakery.
Construction begins soon inside the mall, with completion sometime in January.
