Bruegger's coming to downtown

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Oct 16, 1998

Bruegger's Bagels is expected to open this winter in the former McDonald's restaurant at Fourth and Main streets in downtown La Crosse.

Greg Lokken, a real estate official for a Bruegger's franchisee in Minneapolis, said Thursday that December is the earliest the bagel store could open.

"I think we've come to terms with Jay," Lokken said. The building will be leased from local developer Jay Hoeschler, who has a contract to buy the property from the McDonald's corporation. It will be remodeled, and Lokken said six customer parking spaces will be created in the sunken garden area east of the building. That area will be filled in.

"Current plans are to possibly have a pick-up window for callahead orders," Lokken said.

"We feel there's an opportunity in a revitalized downtown La Crosse for a quality food-service operator like us," he said.

The downtown store probably will have about 20 full- and part-time employees, Lokken said. And it will have a commissary where bagels will be made for that store and for other Bruegger's stores that may open later in La Crosse, he said.

Bruegger's stores sell a variety of bagels and cream cheeses, bagel sandwiches, soups and beverages.

The La Crosse store will be owned by franchisees J. Kurt Schreck and Kari Schreck. The Schrecks, who also are part-owners of the La Crosse Bobcats basketball team, are part-owners and operating partners of franchisees that operate 34 Bruegger's Bagels stores in Minnesota, 15 in Colorado and seven in Wisconsin.

The McDonald's restaurant closed in November 1995.