Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) Coffee shop and downtown staple The Daily Grind is set to change ownership next year.
Luckily, that new owner will already be a familiar face to regulars.
Eric Whitrock, who has helped run the business for 14 years, will take over next June or so once owner Bill Gratzek retires.
Becoming owner of The Daily Grind was a long-term plan for Whitrock. “I always wanted to open my own place and every time I talked about it, [Bill] just kept saying, ‘wait until I retire,’” he said.
With that future in mind, the pair sat down and ironed out details. After transferring ownership, Gratzek will continue to assist in the operation for a time to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Whitrock already fills nearly every role at the business and anticipates a smooth transition when the times comes.
“I pretty much fill in wherever the most help’s needed at a certain shift,” he said. That’s everything from cooking and making coffee, to ordering supplies. Those who stop by have a good chance of getting helped by him.
“I’m afraid the place would burn down if I wasn’t here,” he said.
After becoming owner, Whitrock doesn’t plan any major changes to The Daily Grind but does plan to make a few additions to the menu to appeal to those who follow a low-carb diet or are gluten-free, having witnessed a demand for those items.
He also wants to make certain items more from scratch, like the smoothies. The large portion sizes will also be switched up for certain items to curb food waste.
Fans of the coffee, which is sourced from both Milwaukee and a Chicago suburb, can rest assured it will remain the same. However, Whitrock does have his eye on a new coffee grinder.
Making a few alterations here and there is part of the exciting possibilities of ownership for Whitrock.
“Just knowing that it’s mine — that’s the part that I really can’t wait for,” he said.
Visit The Daily Grind at 236 S. Central Ave. Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Author: News Desk
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