For the last year, Chris Mollica had been contemplating what sort of business could fit in with his brothers’ convenience store Park N’ Shop in Manawa.
After Subway moved to its expanded location, the front of the building was available for a new opportunity.
With a great location with high visibility, along with good customer flow, Mollica felt a bulk food store could fill the space and complement the convenience store.
Today, Little Wolf Market sells food hand-packed products such as candies, chocolate, nuts, snacks, dry goods along with some gluten free, organic and sugar free items.
“Calling it a strictly ‘bulk food’ store is a little misleading,” said Mollica. “We do sell some items in bulk such as candy, flour, rice and baking items, but we are on a smaller scale than some of the larger bulk food stores. However, hand-packing these items keeps the operating costs down and offers customers products at a good price.”
Mollica worked out an agreement so that his brothers receive a small commission percentage of sales in exchange for utilizing Park N’ Shop’s employees for checkout.
So far, sales have been good and are increasing weekly. He plans on expanding further into Park N’ Shop and will eventually double the Little Wolf Market’s floor space.
Mollica is working with limited space, but aims to please his customers and will order hard-to-get items. He has a suggestion box in the store for product requests and ideas.
“I enjoy unique and healthy foods myself,” says Mollica, “and want to bring these good foods to Manawa.”