by Josh Perkins, Prepared Foods Category Manager
For years, Willy Street Co-op has been putting in the work to make the Deli the best in the city. Locally sourced foods, a huge variety from our in-house kitchens and local entrepreneurs, and great options for many dietary needs and preferences all go into it.
Check out our menu or place an order here.
In normal circumstances, this shows up for our Owners in a bustling display of color and aroma, making the Deli and Juice & Coffee Bar a destination to browse or buy while you get other shopping done or plan a picnic in the neighborhood. We’ve worked to make it welcoming and relaxing.
However, we are all now looking for a greater sense of security when shopping. Since early 2020, our Delis have looked quite different. Clustering elbow-to-elbow to check out the sights and smells isn’t the way to go anymore, and many of us are looking for the quickest shopping experience possible without sacrificing quality.
Quick orders, curbside available
To serve that need, last month Willy Street Co-op brought you the ability to place quick orders from the Deli right from our website and pick them up at the front of the store or have them delivered curbside. We are partnering with the mobile service ChowNow, already familiar in Madison in a number of local restaurants. Without a separate app or any other steps, you can shop the Deli and complete payment for your order before arriving, then indicate to us whether you’d prefer a quick pickup at customer service, or curbside pickup. We’ll let you know when you can pick up as soon as you submit your order.
Opening menu
Our opening menu includes a handful of favorite Deli sandwiches, with an add-on meal option featuring Kettle Chips, fresh fruit, and Blue Sky sodas, meal boxes from our Production Kitchen including Red Curry Tofu and Cilantro-Lime Rice, Roasted Vegetable Lasagna and Garlic Bread, and BBQ Pork and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. We’ll also make fresh juices and bakery available to round out the meal, whether lunch or dinner, and make it possible to shop for a few meals at a time, as you like.
Starting this month, we’ll also be making some seasonal foods like roast turkey and sides, and the full selection of holiday pies, available through the service. If you are looking for a quick way to serve a small group without a time-consuming trip to the store, consider placing an order for either a full meal or saving a signature side dish for yourself while you leave the rest to us.
Starting small
While this service won’t be like shopping the store in every way—we are starting fairly small to make sure the menu is carefully handled and delivered to you when we get it going, and patronage benefits aren’t applied in the payment method used—we are excited to be able to give you the same high-quality fresh foods you’ve always shopped in a much faster and more convenient way.
menu additions
Please keep an eye out for additions to the menu as we continue through fall and winter 2020. As always, your feedback on what you want to buy helps us so much in this. We hope you will enjoy this new service and stay safe and well!