Local Leadership, Real Impact: 6th Street Filling Station and Food Waste Recycling

Good things happen when people work together. At Hsu Growing Supply, we team up with local places that care about the earth and the people who live here. One of those places is the 6th Street Filling Station.

They help us keep food scraps out of landfills, so we can turn them into healthy compost full of helpful microbes and nutrients. It is a simple way to care for our town and the land.

The Filling Station also goes the extra mile by using ingredients from nearby farms. That means their food is fresh, and it supports other local families, too.

They are also known for some customer favorites, including homemade hollandaise sauce, fresh baked bread, chicken dumpling soup, and warm cinnamon rolls.

A Little History

The 6th Street Filling Station has a story that goes back many years. In 1932, the building started out as Borths Auto Repair. It was a gas station where customers filled up their cars and shared stories while they waited. That is how it got its name. It was a place where people came to fill up on what they needed.

Over time, the old gas pumps were replaced with kitchen stoves, and the building slowly turned into a place for good food instead of fuel.

Even as the building changed, it stayed a gathering place for the Wausau community. Neighbors came together here then for gas, and now for breakfast or lunch. The Filling Station has always been about lending a hand and making everyone feel welcome.

Kroening’s Story

Kroening owns the 6th Street Filling Station. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Stout, she moved to Wausau and started working at City Grill at the Jefferson Street Inn as their first intern.

Kroening started at the bottom, helping in the kitchen and waiting tables. With steady effort and a helpful attitude, she worked her way up to assistant general manager. This experience, along with bad experiences with management at other places, helped her grow into the leader she is today.

In 2009, not long after arriving in Wausau, Kroening met her husband. They connected over their shared love of food and community. Their friendship grew into love, and together they built a life rooted in kindness and teamwork.

Family is at the heart of everything Kroening does. In 2017, she and her brother, Lee Martino, bought the Filling Station.

Kroening also has a 15 year old daughter named Lilith. Lilith is a high school sophomore who has a real love for baking and helping customers. You might see her pitching in at the Filling Station, doing what she enjoys and learning new skills.

In 2016, Kroening turned 30. That same year, she lost her dad. It was a very hard time, but it taught her the importance of balance, making time for her family, her team, and herself. That lesson shaped the way she runs the Filling Station.

The restaurant follows a simple pattern. Open for breakfast and lunch, then close in the afternoon. This schedule allows Kroening to pass her value of balance on to her team.

Kroening wants everyone who works at the Filling Station to feel welcome and supported, and to know they can grow and learn. She listens to her team and holds high expectations. The team also spends time bonding and looking out for each other. For Kroening, it is not just about making good food. It is about building a place where people belong as a family.

Our Food Waste and Recycling Program

Kroening cares deeply about the community and our planet. She works hard to make our Food Waste and Recycling Program at Hsu Growing Supply fit into the restaurants busy routine.

She keeps food scrap buckets in easy to reach places where scraps are most likely to be collected. She also trains staff on what belongs in the buckets. Because she values the program, her team does as well, which brings them success.

Together, their efforts help divert food waste from landfills and help us create nutrient rich compost that supports healthier soil. That compost can be used to grow stronger plants and help the land stay healthy.

Working Together

When local businesses and local people care about the land and each other, good things happen. The 6th Street Filling Station is not just about food. It is about making things better for everyone in our town, one meal, one good choice at a time.

We are happy to call them friends and partners in making our community stronger.