By Shereen Siewert
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, Briq’s Soft Serve location at Riverlife Park in Wausau won’t open in 2020, city officials confirmed.
Briq’s other Wausau location, along with stores in Weston, Rib Mountain, Mosinee, Minocqua and Rhinlander are open.
Under the terms of the company’s agreement with the city, Briq’s at Riverlife Park normally would operate from approximately May 1 through Oct. 1 depending on weather, offering “grab and go” snacks in addition to soft-serve ice cream.
The three-year lease agreement between Briq’s and Wausau calls for Briq’s to pay $1,000 per month rent year round, an amount that will increase by 3 percent after the initial lease period ends.
But Briq’s is not currently paying rent for the Riverlife Park location, as they are participating in the city’s rent deferral program that aims to aid businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deferment, approved in April by the Wausau City Council, became effective May 1, said Wausau Finance Director Mary Anne Groat.
Under the terms of the lease agreement, Briq’s would also be responsible for daily cleaning and restocking of the park’s public bathrooms during the summer months.
The restrooms, which are housed in the same building as the concession area, will now remain closed for the summer, said Parks Director Jamie Polley.
The concession stand is part of Riverlife Park, a roughly $4.6 million project that opened to the public last year.
