Wisconsin Rapids Streetwise: New owners at Hotel Mead and Jokers Bar & Grill, and an update from Gremler's Bakery

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – What’s happening with businesses in the Wisconsin Rapids area?

Streetwise has your answers. These roundups offer an easy way to stay up to date with what’s happening on the Streetwise beat. If you know of a new business, a development or a place that’s closing, send me a note at cshuda@gannett.com. If you have questions about something opening, closing or changing in the area, send me those, too, and I'll do my best to find an answer.

This roundup features an update on Gremler's Bakery, new owners and a new name at the former Jokers Bar & Grill, and new owners and planned renovations at Hotel Mead.

Kitchen section now open for season at Gremler’s Bakery

Ata’s Kusina Korner is now open for the season inside Gremler’s Bakery. The section of the bakery that offers various kitchen gadgets, tools and gifts reopened Monday. Ata’s Kusina Korner is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Visitors will have to wait a few more weeks for their favorite baked goods, however. Steven Gremler, who owns the bakery with his wife, Aimeelou, said they are waiting for new equipment to be delivered that they need for daily production, so the bakery portion will open May 2.

For more information, find Gremler’s Bakery on Facebook.

Jokers Bar & Grill is now R&R Patio Bar

Jokers Bar & Grill has become R&R Patio Bar. Earlier this month, Jokers Bar & Grill announced on its Facebook page its owners retired and the business would become R&R Patio Bar.

According to property records, Russ Cleveland and Rhonda Wilhelm purchased the business. R&R Patio Bar opened April 1 at 5075 State 13/34 in Wisconsin Rapids, south of State 66. The R&R Patio Bar announced on its Facebook page construction has started on a patio stage that is expected to be complete in May. Cherry Pie will perform on the new stage May 18 as R&R Patio Bar celebrates its grand opening.

For more information, find R&R Patio Bar on Facebook.

Hotel Mead has new owners

Hotel Mead also has new owners. Hotel Mead and Conference Center announced on its Facebook page new owners took over on March 1 and they have started renovations at the hotel.

According to property records, SN Ram Hotels purchased the hotel at 450 E. Grand Ave. for $3.6 million.

SN Ram Hotels purchased the hotel from Founders Collection 2 LLC of Marquette, Michigan, which purchased the hotel from SKD Hotel Mead LLC in January 2020.

The hotel itself holds about 73 years of history in Wisconsin Rapids. Consolidated Water Power & Paper Co. financed and built a new hotel in 1950, originally named "Bel-mead Hotel," meaning "beautiful valley." When George W. Mead I suffered a stroke and resigned as the company's president that year, the hotel was renamed Hotel Mead after him and it opened in 1951. It was renamed the Mead Inn in 1962 but returned to Hotel Mead in 1999.

More local business news: Polito's Pizza permanently closes Wisconsin Rapids restaurant

More local business news: Marshalls sets grand opening date for new store at former Shopko building in Wisconsin Rapids

Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wisconsin Rapids Streetwise: Hotel Mead, Jokers Bar, Gremler's Bakery