We are excited to announce that the Willy Street Co-op production kitchen—which supplies most of our hot bar, Grab & Go Deli foods, and bakery—will be relocating to Garver Feed Mill in 2027. Our lease starts January 1, 2027, and we expect the kitchen to be operational in that space by spring next year.
“Last spring, Bryant Moroder from Garver Feed Mill contacted us with some exciting news,” General Manager Anya Firszt said. “A space was about to become available, and he wanted to know if we were interested. As it turned out, the space and location turned out to be better than we had hoped. The space is already equipped to support our production needs, and it is close enough to our current facility that our current staff can still walk or bike to work. This move will help us meet our current demands and sets us up for future growth.”
Willy Street Co-op’s production kitchen has been operating out of 1882 E. Main Street since 2005, a few years before the opening of the Co-op’s second store in Middleton (Willy West). Willy North opened in 2016, and the kitchen began to feel the strain of supplying three stores. Over time, workspaces became smaller while storage was filled to the limit. The kitchen could not be expanded in its current location, so the Co-op began to scout out locations for a larger kitchen space.
The Garver location will provide expanded workspace and storage, and includes many features we would otherwise need to build out. This opportunity to sign a lease was open for a limited time, and remaining at our current site would require significant investment. The Garver complex is also still on the near-eastside, making it a similar commute for kitchen staff members. The Garver complex is also still on the near-eastside, making it a similar commute for kitchen staff members.
Nicholas Oconnor, Willy Street Co-op Director of Prepared Foods, is also sees benefits for Kitchen staff members. “We are excited to have our kitchen move to Garver with increased workspace for our staff and all the great stuff surrounding it—right off the bike path, next to Olbrich Gardens, connected to Ian’s Pizza, and Ledger Coffee. I think this will be really great for our team!”
Garver Feed Mill’s Project Manager, Bryant Moroder, considers the addition of the Co-op’s Kitchen to be a perfect addition. “Garver’s historic role in Madison’s food economy is coming full circle,” Bryant says. “With Willy Street Co-op joining the Late Winter Farmers Market, Food Truck Friday, REAP Food Group, and several other local food businesses inside, Garver continues to build on its legacy as a place that supports local farmers, strengthens small businesses, and brings people together through food. Together, these businesses and organizations make Garver one of the region’s most important hubs for local food, economic opportunity, and community connection.”
