Ribbon cut on Monona’s new Kwik Star convenience store
Kwik Trip, Inc., company leaders, store employees and Monona city officials gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting at Monona’s new Kwik Star Jan. 5. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Kwik Trip, Inc. CEO and chairman of the board of directors, Scott Zietlow, was one of several people who spoke at the ribbon cutting event.
Robin Jones, food service district leader, spoke about her growth within Kwik Trip since starting with the company over 20 years ago.
Monona Fire Chief Dave Smith accepted a $1,000 donation at the ribbon cutting. Presenting the check were store leader Kristen Earles and ASLs Michael Rubendall and Doreen Bries.
Another $1,000 donation went to MFL MarMac High School's Caring Closet. It was presented by ASLs Michael Rubendall and Doreen Bries and store leader Kristen Earles to MFL MarMac guidance counselor Abbey Cottrell.
This “Generation 3” store has a fresh look that incorporates a softer color scheme and, at 9,500 square feet, is also larger than its predecessor. It has more of a market and grocery type feel, along with a sitting area, self checkouts, a car wash, additional gas pumps and more parking spaces for semis.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Kwik Trip, Inc., company leaders, store employees and Monona city officials gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting at Monona’s new Kwik Star Jan. 5.
“Welcome to our new store. I’d like to thank everyone for coming,” said store leader Kristen Earles, who was one of several people to speak at the event. “I’d like to thank [CEO] Scott [Zietlow] and the rest of the Zietlow family and the city of Monona for allowing us to build in this town. Thanks to all my hardworking co-workers and the dedication they put into traveling and cleaning. In watching the building of our new store, it was exciting to see all the new changes that were coming.”
The new Kwik Star convenience store and gas station opened at 12801 Falcon Ave., just off Highway 18/52, in November. It’s at the same location as the previous store, which opened in 1985.
This “Generation 3” store has a fresh look that incorporates a softer color scheme and, at 9,500 square feet, is also larger than its predecessor. It has more of a market and grocery type feel, along with a sitting area, self checkouts, a car wash, additional gas pumps and more parking spaces for semis.
Earles called the store a representation of a promise of a bigger and brighter future for the company and her co-workers.
“Our main goal is to provide the best customer service possible by exceeding our guest expectations and providing a very clean location to shop at with no out of stocks. My team and I are committed to making this promise happen,” she said.
Kwik Trip, Inc. CEO and chairman of the board of directors, Scott Zietlow, now heads the fourth-generation company, which is based in La Crosse, Wis.
He stressed Kwik Star’s commitment to fresh products, including bakery, fruits, veggies and dairy as well as the store’s selection of salads, sandwiches, pizzas and other to-go options.
“We like to say, ‘What’s in the cow today is in the store tomorrow,’” he joked. “And most of the time, it’s 24 or 48 hours. We deliver to this location mostly every day, so we have fresh product for you on a daily basis.”
“It’s a gorgeous store and location,” Zietlow continued. “We’re thankful for being here and allowing us to have this new location. We really do think it provides a clean and safe place to come to purchase fresh products at a great value. We have high expectations for this location.”
Zietlow called the local employees Kwik Trip/Kwik Star’s most important asset, though.
“Thanks for getting this store ready and all you have done and all you’re going to do,” he said. “When we do well, everybody does well, including the communities in which we’re in.”
The company’s support of the community was emphasized by two $1,000 donations presented at the ribbon cutting. One donation went to the Monona Volunteer Fire Department and the other to MFL MarMac High School’s Caring Closet.
Monona Mayor Grant Langhus also referenced this commitment.
“Kwik Trip has contributed tens of thousands of dollars through fundraising and donations to local organizations. It’s been very appreciated,” he said. “In addition, I’m especially thankful, personally, for the flexibility extended to Monona’s organizations with the fundraising I’ve been a part of. Being able to return things we didn’t use and being able to order things with a day’s notice.”
Langhus said the city of Monona and surrounding residents value Kwik Trip’s expansion with this new, state-of-the-art facility.
“We’re grateful Kwik Trip elected to increase Monona’s footprint, given other options going back more than 25 years ago and again today,” he stated. “Thank you, Kwik Trip, for you continued investment locally and along this important stretch of the Highway 18/52 corridor.”
