Mauston or Tomah (Madison, Superior, Sparta: for sale, crime, house)

[gelu997]

I am planning to move to Wisconsin and would like to open a small
European Deli.It would be based on Polish-German products.I just dont know
if Mauston,Tomah,New LIsbon,or Adams have a need for a deli,considering there are big supermarkets in town.Although many residents are of European ethnic."Would You shop at a European deli?"

[GreggB]

Yes, I would certainly try a European deli. Tomah is a nice town. The Southwestern part of the state is so beautiful--all the hills and valleys. Beautiful biking country!!

[Drover]

You might find useful information on the area of Mauston, Tomah and another nearby town (Sparta) in this thread and this thread. In the former thread, you can pretty much disregard as ludicrous the suggestion that either town has a crime problem equivalent to that of Chicago.

Not sure how well a high-end European deli would do in the area. I would guess pretty well as long as you're actually in town. Mauston in particular seemed like the kind of place that would be receptive. I think an area that has more tourism is going to be better able to support that kind of business, and Mauston seemed to draw at least some tourism. Sparta draws some seasonal tourism mostly during warm weather because of a popular bike trail that starts (or terminates, depending on direction of travel) in Sparta.

Speaking of Tomah, I really must make a pilgrimage to Mr. Ed's Tee Pee this summer. Sounds like a good excuse to visit family in the Twin Cities.

[Madonna Inn]

I don't know if Bernstad's would be your biggest competition or not, they're a European marketplace and grocery store.

What I HAVE heard is that the strip mall area on Superior Hwy in the past has not had good luck with keeping long term business. That may have changed.

[Diggss]

I would go to Reedsburg. Mauston seems to be a hard town to have a new business, and the town is really not growing too much if at all. Many people in Reedsburg commute to Madison for work, so they would love a deli of this type. Also Reedburg seems to be booming always looking to bring in new business.

[topsekret]

I live in Tomah and have all my life. I think your deli would go over great. Tomah is growning rather quickly. Really only two places to shop for deli items, one being Walmart. Which most of the people I talk to HATE IT and do wish another option would come to Tomah. I myself am a business owner, I have a store in a new strip mall in a great location! A friend of mine owns the strip mall (also a business owner/investor) we were just talking about how a deli would go over great in the strip mall, also talking about organic meat and veggie's. No good meat or fruit and veggies in this Town! There is space available in the strip mall! Anyhow what ever or where ever you choose, I say KUDOS to you!!!!!! Also got a house for sale!

[topsekret]

Not so sure I would try Sparta, I think any business just starting up would have a tuff go of it in Sparta. Burnstad's super market in Tomah is way on the south side of town, deli and produce quality is declining. Walmart is on the far north. The best place is north, but it's not as north as Walmart, next to three banks, V.A medical Center the area has no grocery/deli, but could use one

[Drover]

Originally Posted by topsekret

A friend of mine owns the strip mall (also a business owner/investor) we were just talking about how a deli would go over great in the strip mall, also talking about organic meat and veggie's. No good meat or fruit and veggies in this Town!

I wonder if part of that isn't simply the business reality of trying to get essentially specialty grocery items delivered to an area fairly well outside of a metropolitan area cost-effectively. Hard to get a decent economy of scale in an isolated area for items like that, perhaps? I dunno.