15 minute read
Corporate Spotlight
KWIK TRIP INC. CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT
AMidwestern household name, Kwik Trip Inc. became a corporate sponsor of the TLW for the first time in 2020, the same year as its 55th anniversary. “We are honored and excited to be a sponsor of the TLW, and did so to provide support to an industry that invests significantly in the communities it serves, while generating a broad economic impact in the form of jobs, tax base and charitable contributions,” says David Ring, community relations manager for Kwik Trip.
Ring says that Kwik Trip as a whole shares some legislative priorities with the TLW, and looks forward to utilizing the TLW’s legislative tools and resources to address public policy issues affecting both organizations at the local and state levels of government.
The well-known Kwik Trip brand was founded in 1965 with its first store in Eau Claire. The family-owned business, now run by the second and third generations of the Don and LaVonne Zietlow family, owns and operates over 720 convenience stores, employs over 27,000 co-workers, and serves 8.5 million guests per week in 350 communities located in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
Ring says the Zietlow family is generous and caring, sharing 40% of Kwik Trip’s pretax profits with all co-workers through annual bonuses. The company’s corporate support center, production, distribution, transportation, food safety laboratory and health center facilities are all located in La Crosse.
“By owning and operating our own dairy, bakery, kitchens, distribution center and transportation fleet, Kwik Trip is able to produce, transport, stock and sell 80% of its own products,” Ring explains. He says this process is called vertical integration, and allows the company to generate cost savings and efficiencies, while also providing daily deliveries of fresh products to the stores.
“We source the ingredients for our company-made products from local and regional farms and suppliers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. We are a company whose ‘culture of caring’ for its co-workers, guests and communities is what defines and differentiates us,” he adds. and community more effectively than anyone else by treating our customers, co-workers and suppliers as we, personally, would like to be treated and to make a difference in someone’s life.” It is very similar to the TLW’s. “Both organizations focus on providing excellent customer service, giving back and serving others, and investing in its organization’s and community’s greatest asset — its people,” Ring says.
And Kwik Trip is growing. On July 29, 2020, the company announced that it would acquire the assets of Stop-N-Go stores, a family-owned, Madison-based company that operates 36 convenience stores in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Ring says the company plans to retain the Stop-N-Go brand for many stores, although some larger stores will be remodeled and rebranded as Kwik Trip. The acquisition is scheduled to close by mid-December 2020.
In addition, Kwik Trip will be hiring more than 3,000 people for either full- or part-time employment as a result of the expansion of its fresh-food options and the Stop-N-Go stores acquisition.
“Kwik Trip extends its sincere thanks to the TLW, its 5,000 members and 70 local leagues throughout Wisconsin for the critical economic role they play in the communities they serve, the excellent and lifesaving SafeRide Program, and the $16 million the TLW and its members donated to over 12,000 Wisconsin charities in 2019,” Ring says. “The TLW and its members are true servant leaders, game-changers and difference-makers!” TLW
KWIK TRIP INC.
La Crosse, Wisconsin kwiktrip.com
LEAGUE PROFILE
ASHLAND/BAYFIELD TAVERN LEAGUE
Tucked along the northernmost edge of the state, the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League serves about 78 members. Founded in the 1970s, the league has almost always been a joint endeavor. “People here hopped on right away,” Dan Doman, president of the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League and owner of The Snug in Washburn, says of the league’s founding.
But it wasn’t always that way. When past president Nancy Sztyndor returned to the area about six years ago, she was vital to reinvigorating the local league. “Shortly after I got in, I was voted as president. We did a lot of membership drives to build up the league. We had a secretary, but we didn’t have a treasurer or a coordinator for SafeRide — we had to fill those positions. We got a lot of people involved and we’re healthy.”
The league also began taking a more active role in the community. “We do quite a bit for the community,” confirms Sztyndor, who owns Ashland’s Stagecoach Bar & Grill and Bay City Cultural Center, affectionately known as Bohemian Hall. “We’ve had a lot more going on in the last five years than we had been doing.”
She estimates that the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League supports more than 50 charities in the area. With the pandemic, the league’s fundraising has slowed or been canceled, however, which will affect charitable giving this year.
Like most leagues across the state, the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League is struggling in the face of the current pandemic, but the league continues to work to support its members and the citizens of its representative counties. While it postponed its annual fundraising raffles, the organization is moving ahead with its annual pub run.
Everyone in the league is included on a pamphlet that participants take to member bars to obtain a stamp. Participants who secure at least 35 stamps are put into a drawing for $1,000. Participants who get a stamp from every bar are put into an additional drawing for prizes. Participants can also band together with a partner on the effort.
“This is the one we kept,” says Doman, who has been a TLW member since opening his business 10 years ago. “It’s a small one, but it’s doing fairly well.”The pub run ends with a party, which the league still plans to have this year, at the end of September, albeit in a larger outdoor venue.
The Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League was also working on its spring party, which features free food and raffles, but it was canceled because of the pandemic. The fall fundraiser, which offers baskets and larger prizes from distributors (such as a weekend getaway at a Washburn bed and breakfast) was also postponed. At least 300 people typically participate in the fall fundraiser.
Proceeds from the spring and fall events support both the league and the charities it supports. Members are major contributors to the county league’s charitable efforts as well, supporting both individuals and organizations. For instance, The Snug alone raised $25,000 or $30,000 for charitable efforts last year.
“We are strong in charitable giving here. Our members are a pivotal point in our communities,” says Doman. “Every bar up here is so good that way. We are a tight community and people really care about each other. It’s the Northwoods.”
Having a tight community that cares for its neighbors is also the reason the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League has a strong SafeRide Program.
“We are doing very well in general and we’ve always done well with that,” Doman says of the local SafeRide Program. It utilizes a taxi service in Ashland, but the rest of the league’s area relies on Good Samaritan drivers.
“We have had to put it out there. People don’t always know we have it, but when people realize we have it, they’re more likely to use it or support it. They like to have the option,” says Doman. “And it’s great that we have a few people across the county who don’t mind” being Good Samaritans.
Being a member of the Tavern League, says Doman, is not only important for the valuable service it provides members, but also for camaraderie and support. He says, “If you own a bar, I don’t know how you can’t be a member.” TLW
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
The Stagecoach Bar & Grill helped bring Nancy Sztyndor back home to Ashland. She reopened The Stagecoach on St. Patrick’s Day in 2014, but she first worked at the establishment when she was 18 years old.
“I remained really good friends with the owner, Jack O’Brien, after I moved away and, when he passed away eight or nine years ago, I was talking to the family and they decided it would be a good idea for me to buy it,” says Sztyndor, who was living in New York at the time.
Sztyndor bought The Stagecoach Inn in 2013 and spent some time bringing the establishment back to life, transitioning it into a bar and grill.
In the time between first bartending at the Stagecoach and buying it, Sztyndor bartended for 15 or 20 years, and worked in retail management. “It was kind of full circle,” she says. “It was a retirement project for myself and my husband — a seven-day-a-week project. But it’s been pretty fun. I’ve been reintroduced to a lot of people I used to know and have met a lot of new people.”
What makes The Stagecoach unique, says Sztyndor, is the establishment’s history.
It was originally called Cabbie’s Tap, which was opened by Ida and Casper “Cabbie” Meyer in 1953. It was a popular place for students from nearby Northland College as Ida would serve cheese sandwiches to college students. The Meyers ran the bar for a decade until a fire destroyed the second-floor living space. They sold it after that.
“After they sold, it remained a bar and was pretty wellknown,” says Sztyndor. “When we bought it, we wanted to keep the same warm feel it had when Jack owned it and I think we accomplished that. It has a warm feeling, a little nostalgic.”
The Stagecoach is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. until close. With the addition of the grill, the establishment offers a variety of menu items, including burgers, wraps and homestyle specials like meatloaf, cabbage rolls and Salisbury steak. The bar is best known for its burgers, says Sztyndor, because they are fresh and hand-pattied, and a variety of options are available, including jalapeno burgers, olive burgers, Reuben burgers, Philly burgers and many more.
“Anyone who comes in for a burger always comes back,” says Sztyndor, who joined the Tavern League shortly after reopening The Stagecoach. “The Tavern League fights for the things we need that we wouldn’t be able to do as a small business. They help protect us all as small business owners,” says Sztyndor. In fact, she believes in the Tavern League so much that, when she and her husband Ron decided to take over Ashland’s historic Bohemian Hall with Kelly and Cale Westlund, they added that organization to the league’s member roll as well.
Now called the Bay City Cultural Center, the hall was built in 1913. A center for individuals of Czech heritage to share meals and have plays, it has always been a place for gathering. “When I was younger, it was the place we’d always go for weddings and events,” recalls Sztyndor.
The hall fell into disrepair over the years, so the Sztyndors and Westlunds paid the debt owed, renamed the nownonprofit event center and began repairs. The Bay City Cultural Center is again holding events, weddings and fundraisers. “It’s a pretty big part of the history of Ashland,” says Sztyndor. “We’re delighted to bring it back to life for the community.” TLW
THE STAGECOACH BAR & GRILL
315 Main St. E., Ashland, WI 54806 (715) 292-6710
BAY CITY CULTURAL CENTER
319 11th Ave. E., Ashland, WI 54806 (715) 292-1578
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
BOOK ACROSS THE BAY
The winter can be a bit quiet in Ashland and Bayfield counties. That is, except for the third week in February, when thousands of people descend on the northern corner of Wisconsin for the annual Book Across the Bay event.
Book Across the Bay is a unique winter race that’s open to winter enthusiasts of all ages and ability levels. The oldest participant in 2020 was 77 and the youngest was 5. The 10-kilometer course, which starts in Ashland and ends in Washburn, is groomed for both classic-style and skate skiing. The kicker, however, is that the course doesn’t follow a land-based route. It runs over the frozen surface of Lake Superior, the world’s largest lake. Plus, the competition is held at night, with the course lit by the stars above and up to 1,000 candles in ice luminaries lining the entire route.
“It’s a fabulous event that people love,” says race organizer Ben Thoen.
About 3,800 people cross the finish line each year and about 4,500 attend the post-race party. While the race is timed, Book Across the Bay is more of an experience than an event, according to Thoen. At every kilometer, for instance, there is a business that sponsors a rest stop, offering everything from a snow sculpture breathing fire to cookies and hot chocolate. The race ends with a massive party.
The event began 24 years ago as a fundraiser for local community organizations. A 501(c)(3) itself, all funds raised by Book Across the Bay go back to the organizations.
Initially, the event was run as a grant program in which area organizations could submit a request for funding. In recent years, however, race organizers shifted to paying organizations a percentage of the event proceeds in return for working the event, says Thoen. The fundraiser is also a boon for Ashland and Bayfield counties. “At a time of the year when we don’t have much, if any, tourism for some months, the economic impact of having 4,000-some people come through is huge,” says Thoen. “For some local restaurants and bars, it is one of their best weekends of the year. Every hotel, and bed and breakfast within 40 to 50 miles is booked solid for that weekend. It is a significant economic boost.”
Organizers also rely on sponsorships to kickstart the event year. The Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League is one of the many businesses and organizations that support Book Across the Bay. “The donation from the Tavern League does a couple of things,” says Thoen. “By contributing a cash gift up front, we can use that as seed money each year to purchase permits, propane, beer and other stuff. Most of our funds don’t come in until the day of the race, so it’s super important that we have those sponsors.”
Thoen goes on to explain that the Tavern League provides bartenders for the race’s post-party as well. “It is a really cool partnership that we have. Book Across the Bay wouldn’t happen without our volunteers and sponsors like the Tavern League. They are the reason we can do this.” TLW
“It is a really cool partnership that we have. Book Across the Bay wouldn’t happen without our volunteers and sponsors like the Tavern League. They are the reason we can do this.” — Ben Thoen, Book Across the Bay
MEET THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PAUL SALZWEDEL
In Meet the Executive Officer, On Premise typically introduces an executive officer who represents the league that is highlighted in the issue (in this case, the Ashland/Bayfield Tavern League). However, for the September/October issue, we introduce Paul Salzwedel, the president of the Green Lake Area Tavern League and central zone vice president. Many of you know Paul, but this column presents an opportunity for him to introduce himself.
Q. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY, LOCATION AND BUSINESS.
I grew up working in our family business with my father, Louis Salzwedel, at The Hitching Post in Manchester, Wisconsin. I purchased The Hitching Post in 1989, and now I also own and operate Tall Paul’s in Ripon and the Hornet’s Nest in Markesan. I also own a bus and limousine service.
Q. WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN BECOMING A TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBER?
Over 30 years ago, I went to our local meeting in place of my dad. After learning a bunch from the other members and having some fun, I was in!
Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBER AND WHAT OFFICES HAVE YOU HELD?
I’ve been a member for more than 30 years, our county president for the last 10 years, the fifth district director for four years and central zone vice president for two years.
Q. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING TAVERN LEAGUE MEMBERS TODAY?
The most important issue right now is COVID-19. The most important question is: How can we learn to adapt our businesses to keep them profitable and open in these trying times?
Q. YOU REPRESENT DISTRICTS 2 AND 5. ARE THERE SPECIFIC ISSUES UNIQUE TO THE AREA?
District 5 runs toward the north, and one of the issues there is how to keep rural and small town bars viable. District 2, which includes Madison, is the central battleground against COVID-19, which is crippling our industry there!
Q. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION WITH THE TLW?
I love talking about the tavern business, getting important information out to the local leagues and also visiting their meetings.
Q. HOW ELSE ARE YOU INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
I am a member of our local Lions Club and I also sit on the board for the Green Lake County Basic Needs Foundation, which gives back to our county’s most vulnerable constituents.
In closing, the Tavern League is a great organization and I encourage everybody in our industry to become a member. And a big thank you to all of you that are members — old and new! TLW
HarborTouch • Clover • POYNT • & More We Let You Stay with YOUR Bank Pay 0% on Credit Card Processing Costs As LOW as only $29 per Month
