ORGANIC GROCERY STORE, DELI, COFFEE SHOP & BAR
Written by Dave Fidlin
Photography by Bob Coscarelli
When the doors first opened more than a decade and a half ago, entrepreneurs Dawn Marie Mancuso and Jennifer Veith had a goal in mind for Green Grocer, their Williams Bay shop that has evolved over time, but has stayed true to its core mission as well.
The business partners, who also operate Clear Waters Salon and Day Spa in the community, said they have aspired to provide quality products and service to locals and visitors alike within their shop, which has evolved since its 2009 founding. This spring, Green Grocer celebrated its one-year anniversary in its new spot, which is across the street from its former longtime perch in the heart of Williams Bay, on the shores of Geneva Lake. The new multi-tenant building includes Clear Waters and several other local shops.
The milestone prompted Mancuso to reflect on Green Grocer’s growth in the past 17 years. “When we first opened, we were a boutique organic grocery store,” she said. “In the second year, we decided to add the deli.”
The bar and coffee shop areas were added later as other tenant vacancies at the former location prompted new growth opportunities. A dedicated dining space was then created.
“Our space, in the new building, has quadrupled from where we were across the street,” Mancuso said in describing the physical options available to continue building out Green Grocer’s service and product offerings.
The relocation breathes new life into one of Downtown Williams Bay’s most visible, and underused, corners. The Walworth Avenue site of the new facility had been empty for more than two decades.
“When the opportunity came up to purchase, we knew what we wanted to do,” Mancuso said. “We have a new 10,000-square-foot building here.”
Jane Larson, Veith’s twin sister, joined the team in 2013 and has played a pivotal part in expanding the business, which today consists of the core grocery store, coffee shop, and bar area.
“One side is all grocery shopping and deli,” Mancuso said in describing the intentional design within the shop. “The other side is dining and a historic bar.” Green Grocer operates on the first floor of the new facility, while Clear Waters is on the second story of the facility.
A rooftop bar, open seasonally, is one of the key features at the new location, and serves customers and patrons of both businesses.
“We have the only rooftop deck in Walworth County, looking over the lake,” Mancuso said. “It has a capacity of about 75 people. One side is for spa guests, and the rest is for dining and live music, which we have a number of days each week.”
Over time, Green Grocer has introduced special events and new offerings.
From the get-go, Green Grocer has been a go-to within Walworth County for high-quality foods that are not readily available in the immediate area. Grass-fed beef, Amish chicken, bison, organic dairy, organic produce, and prepared deli salads are among the product offerings.
Green Grocer also offers an array of coffees and teas, herbs and spices, gluten-free items, organic baby food, organic home care products, and body, skin, and hair care items.
The local shop has a full range of beers, white and red wines, cocktails, mocktails, mockwines, and sparkling beverages.
As Green Grocer’s business has continued evolving, other options have been introduced, including online ordering and catering services. Weekly wine samplings on Fridays and Saturdays have been popular crowd-pleasers.
Whenever possible, Mancuso said Green Grocer strives to source its products from suppliers who work and live within the Dairy State.
“We do sell a lot of local products and produce, seasonally, in the store,” Mancuso said. Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, which are made in Wisconsin, have been a cornerstone of the deli area, for instance. Beers from Walworth County’s own Duesterbeck’s Brewing and Wisconsin-proud New Glarus Brewing also are offered. Colectivo Coffee and Troubadour Bakery products are available within the store as well.
“We do very lovely wine dinners the third Thursday of every month,” Mancuso said. “We have a very nice boutique wine section. It includes a lot of locally sourced spirits and other types of drinks.”
The shop also has introduced new ways of enjoying the meals served at the restaurant area.
“On Thursday nights, we offer our dinners to go,” Mancuso explained. “We do a variety of things, everything including a chicken dinner and meatloaf. We like to serve seasonal dishes.”
Looking to the future, Mancuso said she and her business partners continue to try out new ideas and strategies to serve locals and visitors alike within Green Grocer.
“We just moved our wine department out of the dining and bar area and into the grocery store,” Mancuso said. “That’s going to help create a cozy nook, with a window overlooking the lake and the park.”
The beautiful view created from within the shop is the owners’ most recent effort to weave Green Grocer into the fabric of Williams Bay.
Address:
77 North Walworth Avenue
Williams Bay, WI
Hours:
9 AM to 7 PM Monday – Wednesday
9 AM to 8 PM Thursday – Saturday
9 AM to 6 PM Sunday
Coffee shop and bar have different hours
Phone Number:
262.245.9077
Website:
greengrocerwb.com
