The Story Of The Mint Cafe

The story of The Mint Cafe dates back to 1888, when the business that would eventually become the cafe operated as a neighborhood saloon. During Prohibition, the business adapted to a changing world, so the saloon took on the name The Mint Cafe and began serving soft drinks, tobacco, and cigars. Fred and Adam J. Brand were among its early operators, with William Tesch joining the business after Prohibition ended and the bar reopened.

The Mint remained rooted on the same downtown Wausau block as the city grew around it. In 1940, the cafe moved a few doors down to its present home at 422 North Third Street.

Over the decades, The Mint developed a character that could not be manufactured overnight. The counter stools, green booths, open view of the cooks, handwritten specials, pies, photographs, and memorabilia became as much a part of the experience as the food. It can only be described as an old-fashioned diner, a dependable breakfast stop, and a lively community hub where the coffee keeps coming, and regulars are greeted like neighbors.

A new chapter began in 1990, when Joe and Mary Pepowski purchased The Mint from Harry “Bob” Youtsos, who had closed the cafe about a year earlier. Rather than reinventing The Mint, they chose to protect what generations of customers already loved. They kept the name, preserved much of the menu, and welcomed back experienced employees.

For the next three decades, Mary became one of downtown Wausau’s most familiar and beloved faces. She learned about customers’ families, sat with guests, offered employment to those who needed an opportunity, volunteered in the community, and delivered meals to those who could not easily leave home. Her passing in 2020 was heartbreaking, but the spirit of hospitality she helped create remains central to The Mint’s identity.

The Mint’s history is carried not only through dates and ownership changes but through the traditions of its guests. Some customers have ordered the same Greek salad for more than 50 years. Its booths have welcomed generations of Wausau families as well as visiting performers such as Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Lorie Line, and Jim Belushi.

In 2023, Joe Pepowski began transitioning ownership to longtime employee Joe Schulz. Schulz had already become an important part of the restaurant and its growing catering operation. The goal was to protect the service, menu, atmosphere, and relationships that customers had come to trust.

Today, The Mint Cafe remains at 422 North Third Street, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with carryout, downtown delivery, and catering for meetings, weddings, celebrations, and community events. Under current owners Joe and Sherry Schulz, it remains a full-service family restaurant, a gathering place, and a living piece of downtown Wausau’s history.

Through every era, from saloon to cafe, from one generation of owners and guests to the next, The Mint has succeeded by balancing change with familiarity. It’s a story of resilience, community, and everyday hospitality. It’s a place to eat good food served by people who care, where Wausau has gathered for more than a century.