by Anya Firszt, General Manager
NOVEMBER—WELCOME TO THE HOLIDAZE!
Happy November! This month we kick off our busiest sales season of the year. We will be offering in-store the traditional holiday meal favorites as well as alternatives to the mainstay. Our Production Kitchen has been preparing for weeks to bring you a fantastic selection of pies and other delectable treats for your holiday celebrations. Turkeys, non-turkey turkey, cranberry sauce and relish, squash, pies, mulled cider… my mouth is watering!
Thursday, November 22 is Thanksgiving Day. The stores will be open for your convenience from 7:30am-2:30pm. Just enough time to get those last minute essentials!
Please don’t forget the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center Thanksgiving Pie sale is going on now! Louisiana Sweet Potato, Pecan, and Sour Cream Apple pies can be ordered online at a.firszt@willystreet.coop (link sends e-mail) or by calling 608-257-4576. Note: pies will not be sold in our stores this year.
GIFT ITEMS
While food and festivities are at the forefront of my mind, we also have a bounty of gift items in store for you! Andes Gifts offer a plentiful array of Fair Trade handcrafted woolen hats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers to keep your loved ones toasty warm. We also have a new assortment of hand felted wool animals (too cute), puzzles, and toys made from sustainable wood and reclaimed rubber.
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
And, another reminder that Wellness Wednesday is on November 7 this month, so you can shop that day and save an additional 10% discount on health and wellness products including some great gift ideas such as aromatherapy and oil diffusers, essential oils, handmade natural bar soap and bath salts, plus CBD oil chocolate bars!
$5 DINNER AT NORTH
Stop at Willy North on Thursday, November 15 from 4:00pm–8:00pm for the $5 dinner. This month’s fare is a taco bar featuring chicken and vegetarian and vegan options!
VOTE
November is also your opportunity to vote: On Tuesday, November 6. Polls are open 7:00am–8:00pm. Your vote is your voice!
WILLY WEST GRAND RE-OPENING CELEBRATION
An exciting update that I would like to share with you is that we finished our remodel and expansion of Willy West.
Last month we celebrated the grand reopening of Willy West with several days of sampling, tasting and promotional offerings in recognition of the amazing work we accomplished together! The lessons we learned throughout the Willy East remodel and the opening of Willy North were critical to the success we experienced at Willy West. I am so proud of our internal team that worked on this project—to each and everyone of you, you have my deepest gratitude for a job well done. A special shout out to Kirsten Moore for taking on the role of project manager the expansion, in addition to her oversight of the Co-op Services department.
I would also like to thank and recognize our design and construction partners in this endeavor starting with Retailworks Inc. for their initial designs, and the team of consultants and contractors that helped to make it a reality: Aro Eberle Architects, Huffman Facility Development, Vogel Brothers Building Co., Commercial Air Inc., Electric Construction Inc., and Hooper Corporation. Additional thanks go out to our landlords, General Capital Group, who were supportive throughout the design and build out process. To learn more details about the Willy West expansion project, please refer to the article on page 18 by Ben Becker.
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE UPDATE
Finally, I can report that the Main Street bridge at the Yahara River is once again open, and access to our administrative offices is no longer restricted. The basement is dry and its contents have made their way back to their previous storage home.
FACE-TO-FACE-TIME WITH THE GM
I plan to mix up Face-to-face-time with the GM a bit and will be at the stores weekend days and weekday evenings for the next several months to bag groceries, front product and direct customers to requested items. If you see me and want to ask or share anything, please feel free!
You can also reach me by calling 608-237-1210 or emailing a.firszt@willystreet.coop (link sends e-mail).
STORE HOLIDAY HOURS
- Thanksgiving Day, November 22: open 7:30am-2:30pm.
- December 24: closing at 6:00pm
- December 25: closed
- December 31: regular hours
- January 1, 2019: closed
Wishing you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
