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Sep 21, 2023

Wausau Restaurants: Blissful Bites & Brunch, CHAR, Velveteen Plum

Summer has arrived, Wausau readers. And while the temperatures outside are hot,

Summer has arrived, Wausau readers. And while the temperatures outside are hot, hot, hot. So is business activity in the Wausau area.

We recently told you about a new plant-based soap shop opening in downtown Wausau. Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. opened June 2 at 320 N. Third St., selling hand and laundry soaps, bath bombs and skin care. It is the Mississippi-based company's first Wisconsin location.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop confirmed in May that it will open its first Wisconsin restaurant later this summer at the former Wendy's location at 2805 Schofield Ave. in Weston. The fast-casual restaurant serves "Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja," according to a company spokesperson.

The family behind the Blue Willow Cafe on Wausau's west side, confirmed to the Wausau Daily Herald in late May that they will open a new restaurant serving breakfast and lunch later this year. The Breakfast Bear is expected to open this fall at the corner of Hummingbird Road and Robin Lane in the town of Rib Mountain. The building is currently under construction.

We also told you about plans for a grand opening celebration June 8-10 for Sportman's Warehouse, in the former Gordman's space at 226601 Rib Mountain Drive in Rib Mountain. The outdoor specialty retailer will offer a variety of discounts, giveaways and product demonstrations each day during the event. This will be the company's second Wisconsin location.

And we continue to follow progress of the new Crumbl Cookies store in Rib Mountain. The franchise owners said in late May they expect to open the new location in the business center on Rib Mountain Drive that also includes HuHot Mongolian Grill, Plato's Closet and Ropa's Pizza in mid to later June. Watch the Daily Herald for the latest updates.

In this edition of Streetwise, we have details on a new brunch restaurant coming to Rothschild and updates on a rooftop restaurant that recently opened in Wausau and the new restaurant serving diners at Jefferson Street Inn.

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Blissful Bites & Brunch is tentatively scheduled to open mid-June at 1490 Marathon County XX in Rothschild. The space had previous been a location for chain restaurant Tony Roma's and then for East Asian eatery Master Buffet.

The new brunch place is owned by Ramon Aguilar, a longtime Antigo resident who also runs Truck's Place at 2506 U.S. 45 in Antigo.

But while Truck's Place serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, Blissful Bites will have breakfast and brunch staples like omelets, French toast and pancakes. Aguilar is also remodeling the building to include a buffet counter.

"We're getting very close" to opening, Aguilar said. "This is a great community and we're really excited for everyone to come here. We'll do our best to make everything happen and make everyone happy."

When Blissful Bites opens, it will have its hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Aguilar said.

You can follow updates by searching for "Blissful Bites and Brunch" on Facebook.

Wausau's first rooftop bar and restaurant is now open.

The Velveteen Plum, which sits atop Bantr's new apartment complex, at 1520 Elm St., overlooking the north side of Rib Mountain, opened May 19.

Featuring bold Latin flavors, eclectic wines, stylish cocktails and casual service, the new venues has 180 seats of indoor dining, with a huge bar and four separate lounge seating areas, according to its Facebook page.

The Velveteen Plum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for lunch, and dinner is served until 10 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday, brunch begins at 9:30 a.m. with lunch starting at 1 pm. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The bar is open until 2 a.m.

The bar features a weekday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and every Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m., they offer a $30 bottle night featuring a selection of curated wines at a discounted price, according to their Facebook page.

Reservations are not accepted.

For more information, call 715-727-3380, visit the website at www.velveteenplum.com or search "The Velveteen Plum" on Facebook.

A new restaurant serving American cuisine with a focus on fresh, local ingredients has opened in downtown Wausau.

CHAR Grillhouse opened May 25 in the former location of City Grill, 203 Jefferson St., at the Jefferson Street Inn.

The 99-room boutique hotel announced in a late-February news release that it had purchased City Grill and would close the restaurant for a period of time to "bring new life to the restaurant with a fresh approach, new menus, and new amenities."

City Grill had offered an Italian-inspired menu.

CHAR Grillhouse reopened with a new lunch, dinner and drink menu. It will serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The new lunch menu features entree bowls, flatbreads, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts. It also includes an express options, which aims to get diners in and out in 30 minutes or less, according to the menu.

The dinner menu features small plates, soups, salads, entrees and desserts. Entree options include CHAR Kebobs, Ale Braised Beef Short Ribs, Butter Poached Lobster Risotto, Umami Burgers, Roasted Boston Cod, Bone-in Ribeye and more.

There is a drink menu with beer, cocktail and wine offerings, as well as a children's menu with chicken strips, grilled cheese and pizza.

For more information, call 715-848-2900 or search "The CHAR Grillhouse" on Facebook.

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Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.