They also have all types of fun specials for customers including free cookies, “triple punch days” for their frequent buyer program or bring-a-friend specials where you get half off. We’ve done two career and hobby days, along with health fairs – talking about the benefits of whole grain.” And they do much more educational activities from teaching kids how to grind wheat with stones to showing women how to make buns. “We donate to runs, walks we’re at Quarry Quest every year we have tents for various community functions. “And, we do a lot of work with the community,” Kevin explained. They’re at three farmers markets: Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Appleton. Their customers, however, know them well not only from the store but from their community involvement. First, there’s genuine camaraderie among the staff. And it’s a down right jovial setting to walk into at 7:30 a.m.Īfter talking to Kevin and his team, however, I understood how the Neenah store is part of a great, fun community – inside and out. ![]() Customers and employees know each other’s names. “It’s basically a Cheer’s-like atmosphere here,” says Kevin. That last comment gives you the flavor of the Neenah store’s personality. And the fact that our bread often grooves to Jimi Hendrix can only make it better.” Everything is made by hand with natural, high-quality ingredients with no preservatives. “It’s 100 percent whole wheat, whole grain. “What sets us apart is that we grind our wheat in-store,” said Kevin, also the main baker at the Neenah store. ![]() Now, two stores later, they seem to be still having fun and baking great products.Įverything at Great Harvest is made from scratch, with pure and simple ingredients. By 2006, they bought the bakery from John. John gave Melissa and Kevin the chance to run the store in 2004. It all started when Melissa’s step-father, John Skyrms, opened the Neenah store in 1997. Melissa emailed me a “yes” so I was able to visit during their 17th anniversary week! She and Kevin own both the Neenah and Appleton stores. So I asked the owners - Melissa and Kevin Lisowe - if I could visit one morning to see the behind-the-scenes action. I’ve been lucky enough to eat Great Harvest Bread’s bread from the Neenah store quite often, thanks to a friend who lives there. A seventh will be added this summer when a Great Harvest Bread store opens on University Avenue in Madison. There are six Great Harvest stores in Wisconsin: Appleton, Neenah, DePere, Delafield, Elm Grove and LaCrosse. As a result, their stores may all have the same quality ingredients, but each store’s atmosphere and contributions are definitely its own. It’s called a “Freedom Franchise” as owners get to run their business in a way that fits their community needs. What makes it thoroughly Wisconsin, however, is the fact that Great Harvest’s Bread Co.’s mission statement is to be loose and have fun. is actually a bread store chain headquartered in Dillon, Montana. You won’t walk out of there without at least one loaf of bread (I left with three and a cinnamon roll when I was there in March.) ![]() ![]() There’s nothing like the sights and smells of a bakery (I believe those aromas are even responsible for selling houses!) And one I highly recommend is the Great Harvest Bread Co. Speaking of bread - since it’s National Zucchini Bread Day on Friday - you may want to try some bread that someone bakes for you.
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