Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights recent developments in Dubuque; Darlington, Wis.; and Galena, Ill.
A well-known Dubuque winery is now under new ownership.
Dave Fritz and Chad Walsh recently purchased Stone Cliff Winery, located within the iconic Dubuque Star Brewery building. The riverfront winery includes a large production area and tasting room, as well as an indoor and outdoor event venue.
“The winery is really important to the building and, I think, to the city of Dubuque itself,” Fritz said. “It’s one of the most unique entertainment venues in the area, and it brings a lot of people to the (Port of Dubuque).”
Bob and Nan Smith first launched Stone Cliff Winery in the late ’90s in Durango, Iowa, before relocating to the Star Brewery building in 2006.
The couple last year announced plans to sell the winery, and they eventually approached Walsh and Fritz — who own the Star Brewery Building — about a possible acquisition.
In addition to owning the property, Walsh, former co-owner of EPIC Construction, led the historic reconstruction of the Star Brewery building in 2006. Fritz also owns the Potosi (Wis.) Beverage Co.
Fritz said he and Walsh discussed the matter and agreed that they felt capable and committed to supporting the winery and its staff, so they decided to purchase the business.
“We’re really excited about transitioning from just being landlords to supporting the growth and operation of the business ourselves,” he said. “What excited us the most was the very capable staff that Bob and Nan put together, so we look forward to working with them.”
Few immediate changes are planned, although Walsh said he and Fritz are working to identify avenues to increase efficiency and further support the experiences of customers and staff.
In the meantime, operations will continue as they had prior to the sale. All previously booked event reservations will be honored, and the winery’s current staff and hours will remain unchanged.
“We’re going to keep things pretty much the same,” Walsh said. “It’s a really neat location, and it has a great staff. Our focus is continuing to help people have those experiences at the winery that they’ve come to love and expect here.”
For more information on the winery or event rentals, visit stonecliffwinery.com.
Darlington lumber supplier acquired by Iowa company
A longtime Darlington, Wis., lumber supplier has been acquired by an Iowa company.
Nodolf Lumber, 15381 County Shop Road, recently was acquired by MetalTek, a division of Elma, Iowa-based Busti Lumber. Together, the two divisions will operate as a “one-stop shop” for building material needs in southwest Wisconsin.
“What really excites us about this acquisition is putting our thumbprint in southwest Wisconsin,” said Busti Lumber representative Nancy Moorman. “We’re really looking forward to meeting with customers there to build that excitement and reputation that we’re already known for (in Elma).”
The acquisition marks a major step for a southwest Wisconsin business whose roots date back more than 100 years.
William Nodolf, a wagon maker by trade, first opened the lumber business in 1900, and the materials business was passed down through subsequent generations.
Moorman said conversations about a potential acquisition began late last year. Busti Lumber already had acquired MetalTek in Monroe, Wis., she explained, and Nodolf Lumber seemed a natural complement.
“MetalTek was strictly metal, so by adding in Nodolf we’re able to offer entire building packages instead of just one piece of that puzzle,” Moorman said. “It lets us increase our customers and what we can do for them.”
Conversations moved “very quickly,” and Moorman said the acquisition was finalized in early January. The Darlington location will now serve as the customer service hub for both Nodolf and MetalTek, although MetalTek will continue its manufacturing operations in Monroe.
More information about the Busti Lumber divisions’ services can be found online at bustilumber.com.
Galena store adds variety through vendor booths
A resale business has remodeled its Galena store to offer a permanent presence to local craftspeople.
EZ Sell USA recently added 20 vendor booths to its store at 201 N. Commerce St. to rent to local crafters, artisans and other small-scale vendors. The addition was part of a storewide remodel and rebrand into EZ Sell USA Antique and Craft Mall.
“This is all part of an effort to reinvent or rebrand the store to make it more interesting, vibrant and contemporary,” owner Paul Connor said. “Adding the booths is one way we can do that … and add more variety to the things we have here for customers.”
EZ Sell USA started in Dubuque in 2005 as an in-person and online consignment and estate liquidation business. Connor, of Galena, relocated the business to downtown Galena in 2016 to be closer to home, and the 10,000-square-foot store has operated as the EZ Sell’s home base ever since.
Connor sells a variety of antique or gently used items both in store and online through eBay, where he has more than 2,000 items listed for sale. The store sells everything from artwork and home decor to antique furniture and collectible books.
Connor said the idea to launch the vendor booths came from his time visiting antique malls and craft fairs across the Midwest. Many small-scale craftspeople will travel to vendor fairs to display their wares, he said, but renting a booth gives them a permanent spot to display their work.
“Right now, people are traveling around or waiting for a craft fair or market to display their items,” he said. “With the booths, (vendors) are able to show off their work seven days a week to all of our visitors here in Galena.”
To make room for the new booths, Connor said store staff culled some of the items that had been around a while and were unlikely to sell, and other parts of the store were reorganized to optimize space.
The booths now take up roughly one-third of the Galena store, Connor explained, and are made out of white pegboard to allow for easy display. Overhead, he used cattle panels to create an overhang where people can display merchandise such as wind chimes or light fixtures.
“I think from the standpoint of functionality, there are a lot of fun ways that vendors can make these booths their own,” Connor said. “You name (the item), and there’s probably a way to display it.”
For more information about booth rentals or EZ Sell USA overall, visit ezsellusa.com or call 563-543-5201.