THE BUZZ

Keeping on at Kreger’s Keeping on at Kreger’s

Owners Kathleen Regelman and Hannah Reyes took over in November after running a successful online bakery

Kreger’s Bakery and Deli has a new

duo of owners dedicated to its cause.

Since Christmas Day Kathleen Regelman and Hannah Reyes have been the sole proprietors and managers of the legacy establishment in Wausau which has existed since 1962. Th ey acquired the site in November after the success of their online bakery business dubbed Cup and Cake and went through an onboarding process to learn recipes and how to handle the side of the business centered around the deli.

“We know we have big shoes to fi ll because the bakery is a staple in this community,” Regelman said. “It is something everybody really knows and loves. Th ere is pressure, we want to do things well and do things as good as the previous owners. Th ere is a need for a bakery but we also want our own spin on things, too.”

So far, nothing much has changed with how the iconic establishment is run and what it off ers to the public. Th ere are still the same pastries, doughnuts and cookies people love and Regelman and Reyes intend to put out new recipes with time. In particular, the pair believe their cakes can rise above their numerous competitors.

“We want to have cake which is beautiful, tastes great and you can tell it is homemade,” Reyes added. “Th ese will not be generic grocery store cakes.”

Being in any business related to food can have its diffi culties and the journey to continuing on with the site’s legacy was not without them. Commencing their control around the height of the Th anksgiving season was hectic, but they worked through it and look back on the time with the sentiment of seasoned entrepreneurs.

“It is not easy doing something new and it is not easy taking over anything old,” Reyes said. “We were doing custom orders only before but now it is our goal to have something in the fridge daily and accessible. We never had that before.”

It has come alongside a warm welcome from the facility’s longtime customers and, while many business owners step away from direct operations as more success comes, this will not be the case for the longtime friends. Th is is their baby which will soon see a remodel and redesign of the exterior.

“We always want to be involved,” Regelman said. “We are passionate about what we do and we are passionate about the community and the relationship so we will always be here to some degree. Th is is really a part of who each of us are really.”

As well, their old franchise does still stand, but the line between the two has blurred with the new location taking some priority while the other is digital.

“Kreger’s has our Cup and Cake products now,” Reyes said. “A lot of our previous customers are also coming in to support us and, the online portion of Cup and Cake is staying, but not at Kreger’s. We hope to transition online there in the future.”

Also, if words from the previous team are any indication, their best days are ahead.

“Th ey’re gonna be a great addition to Wausau,” Kreger’s bookkeeper Michelle Tabaka said in a 2021 article for the Wausau Daily Herald. “We’re very pleased.”

Kreger’s Bakery and Deli is open from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 6 a.m. to noon Saturday under Regelman and Reyes’ ownership. More information can be found at the Kreger’s Bakery Facebook page or calling 715-845-3644.

▲ Kathleen Regelman, left and Hannah Reyes share a laugh during producti on at Kreger’s Bakery and Deli. The pair assumed control of the business in November aft er previously running Cup and Cake.

Evan J. Pretzer is a contributor to City Pages. He can be reached at evan.pretzer@protonmail.com.

▲ A grouping of cupcakes sit ready for consumpti on at Kreger’s Bakery and Deli in Wausau. (Evan Pretzer)