New succulent bar in Wisconsin Rapids, Firehouse Subs, Subway news in Stevens Point area

Happy Tuesday and welcome to the Streetwise Newsletter!

Have you heard about Roots Greenery? It's a business that focuses on succulent bar events, where people can plant and decorate pots with succulents like cacti and aloe vera. Jami Root Wray established the business in 2020 and held events in Orlando and Little Suamico.

In March, 18-year-old Denali Urban bought the business after meeting and working with Wray, learning more about succulents and other houseplants. The Wisconsin Rapids woman plans to start introducing Roots Greenery in the area at farmers markets, private parties and other events and eventually open a permanent location in Wisconsin Rapids.

Stevens Point has some new businesses opening and expanding, as well.

A volunteer firefighter and his family opened Firehouse Subs in Stevens Point earlier this month. Matt Berndt serves as captain of the Kronenwetter Fire Department, and he and his family were excited to join a brand that supports local first responders. Firehouse Subs operates its Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has given more than $1.1 million throughout Wisconsin to help provide life-saving equipment and resources to first responders and public safety organizations.

Starbucks also opened earlier this month at 1845 Plover Road in Plover.

McCain Foods in Plover announced another expansion and broke ground on a $169 million project that will add 110 new jobs. The project adds more production lines to create cheese-based appetizers, including breaded cheese nuggets, battered mozzarella cheese sticks and breaded Wisconsin cheese curds.

First State Bank recently celebrated its new Stevens Point office that opened in April at 5500 Carrie Frost Drive in the Portage County Business Park in Stevens Point.

We are also excited to have Emalyn Muzzy with us as a summer intern, covering news in central Wisconsin. Emalyn wrote about three businesses sharing space inside 1008 Main St. in downtown Stevens Point. A bookstore called Bound to Happen Books and a low-waste shop called Process already shared space on the first floor of the building. Now, both businesses have expanded, with Bound to Happen Books moving to the basement. Process now operates on the entire first floor of the space.

A third business opened on the top floor of the building. Boudoir by Dez opened June 1, and Tomorrow River Homestead, a community lodge based in Nelsonville will use the room upstairs next to the boudoir studio.

If you have any questions or tips for future stories, send them my way at cshuda@gannett.com. If you’re interested in my colleagues’ or my coverage, please consider subscribing to the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune or the Stevens Point Journal.

Who is Streetwise?

I’m Caitlin Shuda, the Streetwise reporter for the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune and the Stevens Point Journal. If you’re interested in openings, closings, relocations, expansions and major developments, Streetwise has it covered.

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