Driftless Market Expands

by Adam Roberts

Over the summer, a second floor with overflow seating, bathrooms and additional space that allows for more retail opportunities was  added to Platteville’s Driftless Market.

The expansion was mostly due to timing. “When we opened the store, we bought the whole building,” says owner Heidi Dyas-McBeth. “We had always rented the second story as a four bedroom apartment.” However, when the tenants did not renew their lease this summer, it seemed the best time to expand the store. “We were at a place where we could really use the additional space,” says Dyas-McBeth, and the expired leases gave them the opportunity to expand.  “Had that apartment not become available, I don’t know that we would have expanded."  

The change took some work. Renovations were needed, including painting and removing drywall for a door to the staircase. The opening of the new floor was also slowed by the tornado that hit Platteville in June. “We were going to open in July, but then the tornado hit,” says staff member Cena Sharp, a key employee to the renovation. “That set us back like crazy.”  The new floor was finally ready for a soft opening in September, and the grand opening was just last month.

Platteville's Driftless Market added a new floor. 

The extra seating was overdue, according to the staff.  “We’re getting busier now,” says Sharp. “We needed more space to grow as the store has become more successful.” The extra space can be reserved for meetings, as well as just for eating lunch.  

The extra space also allows for community events. “In the past we’ve offered cooking classes and other kinds of workshops, but we were very limited with the space we had,” says Dyas-McBeth. “[The new space] gives us room to do more educational things related to the products we have at the store.” Plans for more events are still in the air. “I want to get an open mic night up there,” says Sharp.  

The space is also available to rent for other causes. “Gifts That Give,” a gift shop full of items obtained through the Fair Trade movement, will be renting some of the space upstairs for the holiday season.  The gifts come directly from workers in Laos and Guatamala--not through any large distributors-- in order to ensure workers are given fair wages for their work. It will be open every Saturday from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

So, what is to be gained from all the hard work put into the expansion of the store? “We hope people will see the Driftless Market as a place to come and have lunch.” The extra seating is a nice place to enjoy food in an intimate setting. Their menu includes wraps, salads, sandwiches and more, with numerous vegan and vegetarian options. “We have meat, too,” Sharp assures, “but we are very conscious of the people that don’t eat meat or people that have allergies.” The store also has wi-fi, which makes it a great spot to do homework.  

So, don’t hesitate to stop in at the Driftless Market for a healthy, inexpensive meal or for anything else in the store’s wide variety of products. Says PHS student Emma Bryla (‘16), “It is very important to buy local, and the Driftless Market is definitely the number one place to do that.”