CADOTT — The entrance to Cadott is seeing renewed development, as an A & W restaurant opened last summer, and a new Kwik Trip convenience store and gas station is now under construction, altering the corridor through the village.
Randy Kuehni, Cadott village board president, said both businesses are welcome additions. Both are located on the north side of Highway 29.
“It means a lot to the village of Cadott,” Kuehni said of the two businesses. “We don’t have a grocery store. Anything that adds to the village is appreciated. We need more industry. The new businesses are a big plus.”
Kuehni said the Kwik Trip is quickly coming together, and it is slated to open later this summer. It is located on the east side of County Highway 27.
Cadott board member Louis Eslinger, who is also a retired police chief, shared Kuehni’s enthusiasm for the new businesses.
“I’m just very excited about it,” Eslinger said. “It’s a great addition to the community, as our main street businesses have been struggling. Kwik Trip brings such a huge variety of things — fresh fruit and vegetables and meats. And A & W, it looks like they are fairly busy with traffic off of Highways 29 and 27. Many of the residents are very pleased.”
The Cadott Village Board approved the conditional use permit for the A & W restaurant in May 2022, and it was constructed on the west side of Highway 27, opening in June 2023 at 609 Crestwood Drive. Dee Wells, the owner of the A & W restaurant, also owns the restaurants located in Withee, Spence and Altoona. She did not return multiple calls for comment.
Both Kuehni and Eslinger said the new businesses also will add property tax base to the village.
Charlie Walker, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation executive director, noted other cities such as Stanley have seen development due to proximity to Highway 29. Walker said there is increased traffic headed through Cadott, north on County Highway 27, as the Chippewa Valley Music Festival grounds are seeing increased usage for events unrelated to Rock Fest or Country Fest.
“I think that drives those numbers,” Walker said of events at the music festival grounds.
Walker said it can’t be stated enough the value of a Kwik Trip coming to a small town.
“When you talk about the food they offer, the eggs, the vegetables,” Walker said. “It is helping the rural community because Cadott doesn’t have a grocery store. It is a big deal for a small town.”
Walker also offered praise to Wells for her investment in the A & W restaurants, saying it is quickly paying off.
Other positive changes appear to be headed to Cadott. Walker noted that Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative is in negotiations to handle and supply the utilities to the village of Cadott, which would help the area grow. He noted the current electric grid for Cadott is tapped out.
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