Butcher shop consolidates operations in Fredonia

Schwai’s Meat & Sausage in downtown Cedarburg closed its doors on Saturday, June 27, but owners Tom and Kathey Schwai said the Fredonia location will remain open. 

The couple said the coronavirus pandemic was not a factor in their decision to close the Cedarburg shop at W62 N601 Washington Ave. They are transitioning their business plan from wholesale to strictly retail.

“We’re getting older and have been doing wholesale for 19 years,” Tom said. “Basically, we want to downsize because we already put in more than 12 hours a day.”

Kathey agreed.

“Everybody makes changes in their lives, and at this time we decided to lighten our load. We are sad to leave the customers and friends we have made in Cedarburg and we appreciate their generosity and kindness during the coronavirus. We are not leaving because of the pandemic, and our sales have been wonderful,” she said.  

The meat shop has been in Cedarburg since 2009 after moving into the former Hoffmann’s Meats storefront. Tom said it was bittersweet seeing longtime customers stop in for one final order during last weekend.

“We’re still going to come back to Cedarburg for all the festivals,” he said. “Cedarburg was really good to us and we can’t thank the people enough. We hope they visit us in Fredonia.”

In addition to Cedarburg festivals like Strawberry Fest, Wine and Harvest Festival and Oktoberfest, Schwai’s has had a presence at a number of festivals between Green Bay and Chicago.

The Schwais have owned the Fredonia store at W3940 Hwy. H for nearly 20 years and were leasing the space in Cedarburg. Prior to setting up a shop in Cedarburg, the couple ran a store in a strip mall in Jackson for five years.

“The first year there was great, but people couldn’t see us there because it was right across from Culver’s,” Tom said. 

Tom is a third-generation owner of the business, which initially began in the Town of Polk in Washington County more than 85 years ago. He said there isn’t a heir to the longtime family business.

“When I’m done, it’s done unless someone decides to buy it,” he said.

Kathey said she is not certain what will become of the Cedarburg shop, but she hopes a similar tenant will move in. She is optimistic her former customers will continue to support the Fredonia shop.  

“We have to look ahead and hope our customers follow us to Fredonia. It’s only 17 minutes away,” she said. “People say, ‘How sad,’ but no. We are just opening a new chapter.”