April 4, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Wheelhouse adapts during pandemic

Every Thursday The Wheelhouse gets as shipment of farm-fresh food from Spence Farms in Fairbury.

Spence Farms is a cooperative of more than 60 farms.

Wheelhouse owners Abbie Layden-Rogiers and her husband Ryan came up with the idea to offer people the opportunity to order from the farm coop when they placed their weekly order.

“We thought we could help people who need to stay out of stores,” Abbie said. “Additionally, we can give even more support to the hard working farmers.”

This week’s grocery list included corn grits, spring red bell radishes, spring lettuce, yellow popcorn, whole milk, goat cheese, grass fed ground beef, pork chops and whole ducks among other items.

“We can provide our community with healthy food options, that come straight from local farms,” Abbie said. “A ‘curbside Farmers Market’ of sorts. I’m very happy with the response we’ve gotten.”

Abbie said a lot of people have appreciated the service being available and the quality of food.

The Wheelhouse posts the available grocery items on their Facebook page and people send in their orders.
During the stay-at-home order The Wheelhouse has lost between 75 and 60 percent of its revenue but Abbie said they are still grateful that they have customers and are able to be open.

Abbie said they realized that the majority of their takeout orders happen of an evening so they changed their hours from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Abbie said the pandemic has forced her and Ryan to look at their business differently.

“If your business is running successfully, there is every reason in the world to keep and follow that system. We don’t have that choice anymore.

“It’s not brainstorming just for fun, it’s obligatory,” Abbie said. “It’s essential to innovate and recreate ourselves. We do not have the option to keep running our business as business as usual.”

Abbie said that while the process of making changes to the business has been stressful it has also been motivating.

“It’s been such a collaborative process,” she said. “All of our employees continue to throw out new ideas, as well as our faithful patrons.”

As part of the grocery list service the Wheelhouse also sells a box of food and then Ryan makes a video cooking the items in the box. It has been a huge hit. This week the box includes boneless pork chops and asparagus with mushroom sauce and roasted garlic potatoes.

“There is a certain joy and satisfaction that comes from the creative process. So, while there is a feeling of loss, there is also a feeling of growth,” Abbie said.

The Wheelhouse will open for outside seating on Friday.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

U of I names December 2020 graduates

May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021

The University of Illinois has released their list of 2020 December graduates.These area students graduated in December. ST. JOSEPHLauren GhernaKohlten...

Grindley keeps positive attitude during pandemic

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic that we are all experiencing, it’s just not high school athletes that are being affected. Lucas...

Talk of the Town with SJO Superintendent Brian Brooks

May 9, 2019

May 9, 2019

Every week we ask a village mayor, school superintendent or board member three questions. This week we talked to St....

St. Joseph youth Dalton revs it up at motocross nationals

July 29, 2019

July 29, 2019

This week, Tristan Dalton is trying to become a national champion. The 11-year-old St. Joseph resident is competing at the...

Sewing it all together: Hartman taking part in Project Run and Play

March 31, 2022

March 31, 2022

Growing up, St. Joseph resident Emily Hartman used to watch her mother and grandmother sew.They would create one-of-a-kind, custom-made clothes...

How I get it done… Diana Foltz

October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022

We are asking local business leaders how they accomplish goals and run their businesses. We spoke to Diana Foltz, the...

SJO community mourns death of Glenn Fisher: ‘He had a heart of gold’

January 12, 2021

January 12, 2021

Glenn Fisher liked to tease people. Whether he was telling the newly hired football coach at St. Joseph-Ogden High School...

Get to know Senior SJO Marching Band member Bryce Collins

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

The community surrounding Marching Band is filled with some of the most talented, passionate, and downright amazing people I’ve ever...

10 things you don’t know about me… Amy Gibbons

December 18, 2019

December 18, 2019

How did you come up with the name for your salon? 192 is actually the St. Joseph exit number. I...

10 things you don’t know about me… Sue Esposito

March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 things about themselves. This week it is Ogden Trustee Sue...

‘Girl Scouts is not all arts and crafts’

January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

” Hannah Fox wanted to help feed her community. And for her Girl Scout Gold Award she attempted to do...

10 things you don’t know about me… Gary Page

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? At the risk  of being boo’d out of town – I will never...

Homer resident digs his passion of paleontology

March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019

Earlier this year, Homer resident and Augustana College sophomore Quinn Powers gave a Youth TED talk. A TED talk is...

Former SJO teacher Williams making a difference

December 23, 2019

December 23, 2019

Larry Williams wants to help people live a healthy life. Eight years ago, Williams and his partner participated in Christie...

Acklin goes the distance, earns induction into SJO Hall of Fame

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Jim Acklin has dedicated his life to coaching and teaching. For that he is being inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden...

Comments
Leave a Reply