Discover Fort Atkinson Wisconsin
The “Simple Life” is simply delicious.
By Lynn Retzlaff - DOTR eNeighborhood Editor
If you know me at all you know I am a sucker for buying local. Lessening my environmental footprint is a draw but it’s also about supporting my community and gaining a personal connection with the items I purchase. Knowing this about me, my brother recently sent me an e-mail about a local farm store that had opened up just outside of Fort Atkinson.
I immediately looked it up. This is what I found.
Simple Life Country Store L.L.C. is located on Ebbert Lane west of Fort Atkinson. It is open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00 pm year round. The theme of the store is traditional Amish style. It is a quaint, country dry goods grocery opened by second generation farmers right on their farm (with the help of their third generation children).
I decided to visit the store right away and meet the owners. How did they come up with the idea? Where do they get their goods? Many questions popped into my head that could have been resolved by phone conversation alone, but the thought of experiencing an Amish style store drew me to closer inspection. I called up a good friend who instantly agreed to spend her Saturday afternoon indulging in a little local consumption.
The store is located off Highway C (just past Hwy J) on Ebbert Lane. We spotted signs for Simple Life Country Store at the end of the long gravel drive along with a street sign reading “Ebbert Lane”. Driving up the lane we could see the house ahead and as we followed the curve to the right our eyes fell on the quaint country store.
Owner Sue Ebbert explained how the 30x40’ storage shed had gone through a five month transformation. She and her silent partner (shhh… it’s her husband) hired a local man to run the electric. They installed the necessary appliances, sink and storage to have a working kitchen. With the use of many upcycled materials they finished the inside to look old-fashioned and quaint. They reused old barn boards, shopped Habitat For Humanity Restore, decorated with great finds from second hand stores in the area and Sue painted a faux-finish brick floorcloth. Beautiful!
Sue told a story of running out of flour earlier in the year and becoming frustrated. She always bought her flour from Amish stores. “We don’t have any stores like the Amish in our area so I thought I should open my own”. A few years back she had undergone surgery on her neck and was unable to return to her former job. This would be an opportunity for her to earn an income and be able to work at home.
The Simple Life Country Store is located on the Ebbert’s family farm that has been in the family for three generations. They raise grass fed cattle and sell the meat in store.
You will also find homemade soap handcrafted by a neighbor, local honey, garden fresh produce from their family garden (when in season), jarred goods and baked goods from The Elegant Farmer, along with delicious breads baked right in the store kitchen.
 At the entrance of the store hangs a beautiful handmade quilt that is being raffled off for a dollar a draw. The proceeds will go to the local food pantry and the Boys and Girl’s Club.
The back corner of the store is filled with flours, dried beans, lentils, rice, crushed oats and grains as well as gluten free products. There is a spice wall, a selection of sweet treats, and a wonderful display of candied fruits, fillings and sprinkles for your holiday baking needs. Sue suggested taking an old basket, which she says “everyone seems to have some laying around” and fill it with honey and preserves or specialty flours for a thoughtful holiday present. I thought, ‘better yet, fill it with some of that yummy bread cooling on the rack’.
An Amish community in Pennsylvania supplies many of the dry bulk goods, but she is also working with more local suppliers. She is hoping to offer local Pork and free range chicken very soon.
“I like to be off the wall a little bit and carry things the store won’t.” was her response when I asked what a customer might find at Simple Life versus their everyday grocery store. She aims for that “old country feeling” and is hoping to inspire people to get back to basics. She does not have any tin can products, instead offering jarred goods and home canned goods.
I also met Sue’s mother Viola Meyer who helps out at the store. She is a lovely lady and I had a good time talking with her about the store as well as the history of the area. Sue’s son and husband also came in to talk with Sue and Viola. The store truly has country charm and a family atmosphere.
I left that afternoon with a decent selection of goods to try including Amish Roll butter that Sue says, “gets people hooked” for a guaranteed return visit. I could not resist the garlic cheese bread. The smell had my mouth watering from the moment I opened the car door. The remainder of my purchase consisted of two pounds of Ebbert’s ground beef, steel cut oats, two bars of soap, some frozen peppers and a package of chocolate covered coffee beans. Yum!
I strongly recommend you take a drive and experience this lovely store for yourself.
Simple Life Country Store L.L.C.
N2795 Ebbert Lane
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.
Store hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am -6pm year round. For more information call Sue Ebbert at 920-563-4469. |
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