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Wausa’s new grocery store owners, staff, and board of directors have all been hard at work to get The Market up and running.

The group of local investors, known under Wausa Group LLC, took over ownership of Main Street Grocery in May 2023. Previous owner Tom Suhr and manager Jessica Kaiser handed the business off after the store closed on May 18th.

The Wausa Group began swiftly with logistical plans such as hiring staff, renovations, and a plan for the new opening along with the new name for the store. New lighting,  flooring, and product reorganization are among some of the changes being made to the building and set up.

The management team hired includes former Wausa local, Rebecca Wamberg, as the manager and her sister, JoEllen Wamberg, as assistant manager. Rebecca made the move and transition from her career as an X-ray technologist in Dakota Dunes, SD to manage The Market.

Rebecca noted that she thinks her customer service skills transferred over from her career in the medical field will serve her well in this new position. “It’s been a whirlwind. I’ve learned a lot,” she said.  JoEllen’s nine years of experience as a manager of the quick stop in Crofton will be an added value to their team.

The Market will also retain some of Main Street Grocery’s previous staff, including some daytime workers and some high school help. Stephanie Anderson, one of the members of the Wausa Group’s board of directors, had this to say, “There’ll be some new faces, there’ll be some old faces. I feel like Becca’s put together a really good team. I feel like customer service is going to be really great and that’s one of our main goals is the customer service as well as fresh inventory.”

Another member of the board, Jordan Johnson, also mentioned produce and customer service as their main focuses. “We’re going to have someone there greeting everybody as they walk in and people don’t have to walk around and find someone to check them out. They’re going to be there.”

The management team and board of directors have a clear vision of how to accomplish these goals for The Market. For produce, they plan to switch out their coolers with new ones. Johnson explained what this will do for freshness of the produce. “An open-face cooler, it can last, shelf-life maybe a week. Whereas behind doors, it can last four weeks.” The staff also plans to receive two shipments per week as opposed to the one per week that the previous store utilized.

The whole team thinks it important to focus on their way of running The Market. Rebecca noted that she doesn’t know how the previous store was run, not having lived here for some time. She is simply running things how she would, listening to feedback she’s been given from the community and guidance from the food wholesaler.

Rebecca wanted to address this to the community: “One thing I do want them to know, though, is it’s all going to be completely different. Everything’s going to be in a different place, different people, it’s all going to be different.” Anderson added, “I feel like the layout is going to be more accommodating for people. We’ve got more room now.”

After being asked about the loss of one aisle in the store setup, Wamberg clarified that no product loss will be seen on the shelves. There may be less variety of brands or less stock physically out on the shelf, but the products will remain the same.

Johnson mentioned, “We’ll still do special ordering, but it might come at a price where you have to buy more of them.”

There are no plans to sell alcohol or tobacco at The Market. Johnson explained that, logistically, it wouldn’t be worthwhile to offer those products at The Market. “We have three other people that sell alcohol in town. We don’t need to compete. Plus, with minors working there, we don’t want to be in that situation.”

The Market will on a short term, trial and error basis, partner with The Wausa Lockers for their fresh meat cutting service. Anderson clarified that this will still be the same meat provided at the previous store through the AWG food wholesaler. “I know that some people probably are thinking that I’m putting our own meat that we’re butchering there in here and we’re not. It’s all still going to be the same meat that we’ve always had here. It’s just being processed at the locker.”

Anderson explained that it wouldn’t be a full time position, so utilizing her USDA approval and capability to process the meat will help get the store up and running quicker. “At first our meat will be staples and based on what people want and need we can expand and grow from there. We’re just really focused on what our customers want and we’re going to really take that into consideration.”

Anderson had the same open mind attitude about the store at large. “We’re expecting there to be bumps, but we’re ready for them.” The whole team presented an “open ears, open mind” attitude and is open to community feedback.

“It’s the community that’s gonna make this thing go. The biggest investment that a non-investor can make is to shop at the store,” said Johnson. “It’s one thing to buy your milk or your last minute groceries here, but I mean, don’t be afraid to fill the cart.”

The board of directors wants to emphasize the importance of shopping local. Anderson indicated, “Convenience is so important. Yeah, you pay an extra $10, $5 total on your bill, you make up for it. And I think that’s our goal is just to keep providing the same kind of products that we’ve always provided and just be more cautious on trying to make sure things are really fresh for our town.”

Anderson shared her own experience of struggle without an open grocery store. “We need this for the community to be able to take care of their families. Take care of their families, take care of their businesses. I mean for me, my business has suffered because I can’t just run down here and get green onions to make green onion brats.”

The board members are not oblivious to challenges that shopping local poses. However, they noted two main points: 1) By shopping local, you have the added convenience of not having to drive elsewhere. Spending gas money and paying taxes back to other towns is not something everyone takes into account. 2) To support our local business is to support our community members directly.

Johnson said, “We gotta realize that by shopping local, it benefits, not only the store, but it helps pay the employees. It allows those employees to shop and provide for their families. It helps the families provide to our school. And so it’s just a trickle down effect.”

The team all showed great excitement at finally getting the store open. “Becca’s done very very well. There’s been a lot of hurtles, a lot of learning experiences, but I feel very confident that we are going to have an amazing grocery store once it gets open,” said Anderson.

The Market will have a soft opening starting Thursday, June 29th in order to accommodate the community for the Fourth of July weekend. The hours will be 8:00am-5:00pm Thursday-Saturday.

A date for the grand opening has not yet been set, but the board of directors hope to see The Market open officially early in July.

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that takes place every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It was created in 2012 to encourage people to give back to their communities and support the causes they care about. Over the years, it has become a powerful force for good, helping to raise millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations and inspiring countless acts of kindness and generosity.

The impact of Giving Tuesday can be felt by individuals, organizations, and communities alike. For individuals, it provides an opportunity to give back and make a positive difference in the world. For nonprofit organizations, it can be a game-changer, providing a much-needed boost in funding and visibility. And for communities, it can help to bring people together and foster a sense of solidarity and goodwill.

Wausa decided to join the generosity last November (2022) and held its first Giving Tuesday initiative. This local effort, organized by representatives of several community organizations, raised nearly $500 in just two single days for the Morgan family, whose daughter Aubrey suffered injuries from a severe car accident in 2021.

“I said ‘oh that’s amazing!’ However in my mind I was thinking more than just that short statement. It was more ‘oh that is SO great! It’s all appreciated more than anyone knows,’” shared Abbey Morgan, expressing gratitude for the community’s support.

In addition, a generous $100 donation was made to the local TeamMates Chapter, an organization that provides mentoring and support to Wausa youth.

Darren Vanness, the founder of the Wausa TeamMates Chapter, had this to say in response to the donation: “The Wausa TeamMates chapter has been fortunate to experience continued growth the past couple of years by adding more mentors. We also continue to grow a list of students wanting a mentor. The Giving Tuesday donation will help us with the increasing costs of mentoring our students.”

Alexa Cunningham, a TeamMates mentee, spoke about the impact of the organization, saying “The TeamMates program is the most beneficial program I have ever been a part of. I have gained the most special relationship I have ever had in my life through teammates. The TeamMates program helps students step out of their comfort zone and meet someone new and it most importantly provides kids with someone outside of their family that they can confide in and share special moments with.”

The Wausa Giving Tuesday initiative was a shining example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to support those in need. It was a testament to the generosity and kindness of the people of Wausa, and a reminder of the importance of giving back and supporting one another.

On behalf of the Morgan family, the TeamMates Chapter, and the entire community of Wausa, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the Wausa Giving Tuesday initiative. Your generosity and kindness have made a real difference in the lives of those in need, and we are grateful for your support.

But our gratitude extends beyond this one initiative. We are thankful for all those who continue to make Wausa a thriving community, a place where people come together to support one another and make a positive difference in the world. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your commitment to making our community a better place for all.

If you would like to be considered as a candidate for Wausa’s Giving Tuesday in 2023, please contact wausanebraska@gmail.com.

The Giving Tuesday initiative was started in 2012 with the goal to combat high spending and counteract materialism in our culture through generosity. Each year, Giving Tuesday has continued to inspire people to give.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecast estimates that holiday sales in 2022 will bring in up to $960.4 billion. With gift giving and holiday sales on the forefront on our mind from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday allows us an opportunity to give of our time, talents, and treasures, and in doing so, to rejuvenate our true holiday spirit.

This year, we’ve compiled a small list of local causes and initiatives so as to give our Wausa community options to take part in Giving Tuesday and support those around them at the same time. Listed below are a handful of organizations and individuals who could benefit from your generosity this year.

The Wausa Community Foundation

The Community Foundation is part of a statewide movement to spearhead community development and create prosperity. The Foundation volunteers are working to build a culture of philanthropy and a robust unrestricted endowment to benefit our community long into the future and supports quality of life initiatives to benefit the lives of current residents and attract new families to live, work, and raise their children in our hometown. The Wausa Community Foundation strives to promote a welcoming community that will preserve the integrity of our small-town history and heritage. “We are excited to invest in our young people and opportunities to enrich our community,” said FAC member Darren Vanness. “In the past three years we have been able to invest more than $70,000 back into our community thanks to the generous donations to our endowment from many benefactors in our community.” Through local investment from generous benefactors, we encourage opportunities and services that attract people of all means to live. work, and visit our community.

The Wausa Community Club – Walking Trail

You may know that the Wausa Community Club has put together a committee of volunteers with an end goal of building a walking trail in our community park. This committee has been hard at work to organize and apply for a grant through Nebraska Game and Parks. If our application is accepted, the Wausa community has a series of pledges to pay for our part of the trail and the rest will be covered by the Federal Highway Administration. We’ve reached $65,000 of our $80,000 funding goal. Reaching our funding goal will add another perk to our application and may help set us apart from other towns applying for the grant. An administrator of the grant has already scoped out our trail plans and listened to a presentation by our committee. According to the head of the Walking Trail committee, Leanna Munter, “the meeting went well.” She noted that Wausa was one of few towns who showed video footage of our trail plans. Help the Wausa Community Club reach their funding goal and pledge for the walking trail!

The School Foundation

This foundation has taken initiative to give back to the community of Wausa in many difference areas. Every year they give out numerous scholarships to the graduating senior class. A recent donation this Foundation has made supported the addition of the new Industrial Tech building to the north of the school. The Wausa School Foundation is the primary source of scholarship money for upcoming Wausa Seniors. Would you like to leave a legacy for your family name? Consider sponsoring a scholarship to benefit Wausa graduates and their future endeavors!

Aubrey Morgan

In November 2021, Aubrey Morgan and her family suffered injuries from a severe car accident and now live with a daily struggle to return things to some kind of normal. There is so much hope in Aubrey’s story. Here is an update from Aubrey’s mom, Abbey Morgan:

“Home for the holidays! We are so happy to be home this year for Christmas, given the awful event last year that made us all miss out on it. Aubrey is doing well, improving day by day. She still depends on her ventilator 24 hours 7 days a week, 365 days a year. She uses a wheelchair to get around. Aubrey depends on mom and dad to do a lot for her, though her fine motor skills are slowly coming back! With each passing day Aubrey tends to open up more and tell us. She’s going to run again and walk. Aubrey also says she isn’t going to ‘keep her vent.’ Aubrey enjoys being home with her animals and having lots of ‘movie dates’ during the days with mom and siblings.”

Our Wausa Community has strived to help this young family and it’s no time to stop now! If you feel called to give this Giving Tuesday, please consider helping the Morgan family!

Teammates

Monetary gifts are wonderful and important! However, that is not the only way to give. This Giving Tuesday, consider volunteering your time as a mentor for Wausa’s Teammates Chapter. As of this year, our local chapter has exceeded expectations and previous records with over 30 matches in Wausa Public Schools. This program benefits both mentor and mentee and helps our overall community thrive. Don’t underestimate the difference you can make with just a half hour a week! To sign up, please contact Chris Johnson at wausateammates2019@gmail.com or visit teammates.org for more information. The Wausa Teammates Chapter does also hope to have the funds to give a scholarship to each graduating senior in the program. Consider donating to help to future of these young Wausa natives.

You can donate to any of the above causes by simply sending your donation to @wausagivingtuesday on Venmo. Please type in the memo line which cause you would like your donation to be sent to. All 100% of your donation will be forwarded to your cause of choice.

A letter of description from Wausa Principal Shane Anderson:

In January of 2021 Wausa High School featured its first class in the new WHIP Program. WHIP, which stands for “Wausa High Internship Program” originated from a number of different ideas and issues we had seen and heard from the community and students at WPS. What this program hopes to provide is: 

● A Hands-On Educational Opportunity: From a schools perspective we had very few opportunities for our students to go out into the real world and learn about potential career fields. This opportunity gives the students a chance to see first hand what some of these fields entail and if it is something they would like to pursue a higher education in. 

● Fulfill Community Job Needs: Employers are experiencing many hardships in trying to fill positions. We hope our students provide some immediate relief to businesses in the community but also give businesses a chance to recruit students into their career field. 

The WHIP program allows students to intern one day a week outside of school. Students are required to still complete 5 days of school work, with one of those days being a digital day where assignments and lessons are online and can be completed on their own time. Students are required to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible. We do not require employers to compensate or pay students for their work but it is allowed in the program. 

Since January of 2021 we have made a few changes to the program. Originally this opportunity was only given to seniors their second semester. With the interest we had in the program it was decided to open it up for Seniors all year long and Juniors in the spring semester for the 2021-22 school year. For the 2022-23 school year we are going to again allow Juniors to participate in the program in the spring semester. Seniors will be allowed to participate all year but their internship day will be on Friday’s. We will also be adding the “Friday’s At Northeast” program into the mix. This program allows students to start a career pathway and earn college credits while doing so. This is an unbelievable opportunity for our students and a wonderful program. We have secured scholarships and funding that will make this program extremely affordable if not free for our students. 

Our main goal was to give kids who were unsure about what they wanted to do opportunities to educate themselves. We also want to provide the student knowledge about local opportunities and career fields that will hopefully allow them to live in Wausa even if they are not necessarily employed by a business in Wausa. The future of our community and school relies upon these young people finding opportunities in or around our community. We hope that local businesses will help us grow this program and if there are any questions please reach out. 

Sincerely,

Shane Anderson

If you’re interested in joining the WHIP Program initiative, please contact Wausa Public Schools at 402-586-2255.