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.