The World Headquarters of Johnsonville, LLC is in the midst of a rural area outside Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. It’s a sprawling complex of offices and a factory that churns out some of the tastiest, most popular sausage products in the country. And now there’s more for sausage lovers to see and experience on this sprawling campus with the 2020 opening of the Johnsonville Marketplace, a 3,200 square foot retail and display center with cool architecture, over 70 varieties of sausage available, tons of other items to eat, wear, cool with, or give as gifts, all with a soon-to-be-iconic sculpture out front.
You can’t miss it, by the way: the massive “BRAT” letters, stacked similarly to the “LOVE” sculpture in Philadelphia, is visible for quite a distance and is one of Wisconsin’s newest Instagrammable spots. You’ll see it as you trek along County Highway J north of Sheboygan Falls, between Highways 32 and 57. It ushers you into the Marketplace area, where outside you can take an oversized Adirondack chair photo, marvel at the brat putting condiments on himself, and check out all the outdoor accoutrement around the building.
Inside, you’ll find all kinds of Wisconsin-centric foods, including Sartori cheeses, Potosi craft beers and root beers, frozen pizzas from Milwaukee-based Palermo’s, Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe Kringle, and for dessert, Baron’s Gelato. The Johnsonville Marketplace also offers shirts, hats, onesies for babies (adorable as can be), and other accessories like glasses and cups, even grills perfect for cooking up Johnsonville sausage products… indoors or out. A variety of flavorful condiments designed to complement Johnsonville’s products can be found, along with breads and brat buns that also make good pairings. Cookbooks offering numerous sausage-related recipes can help make those grills and grilling tools even more handy.
The “Sausage Wall” on the north end of the building is home to a dizzying array of sausages and all the aforementioned foods and beverages. Popular with Johnsonville employees, it gives you an opportunity to stock up on whatever looks to satisfy your palate.
The Marketplace also plans to open its Outdoor Grilling Station in spring of 2021. It’s a paved patio outfitted with grills – of course! – which will host charity brat frys, cooking demonstrations and other special events.
The Johnsonville Marketplace opened in October, 2020 to coincide with the company’s 75th anniversary. As part of the celebration, Johnsonville partnered with Potosi Brewing Company to create two craft beers: Johnsonville Beer Mert 44 Amber Lager and Grumpy Grandpa Czech Pilsner. Both are brewed and canned specifically for the company and available exclusively at the Marketplace. Mert 44 was named for Stayer family member Jamie Mertens (a Stayer family member); the Grumpy Grandpa honors Johnsonville Founder Ralph F. Stayer’s strict standards for both food and drink.
Guests can also purchase a hardcover book, The History of Johnsonville and the Stayer Family Behind It, that recounts the company’s history, products, ads, family, and community involvement going back to the company’s founder in 1945.
You’ll find Johnsonville and the Johnsonville Marketplace in the midst of farm fields and hills in Sheboygan County, just north of Sheboygan Falls. It’s all along County Highway J, between Highway 57 to the west and Highway 32 a little further to the east. Highway 23 parallels County J about two miles to the south.
Johnsonville Marketplace Store Hours:
Monday – Wednesday, 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Thursday, 6:00AM – 4:00PM
Friday, 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Saturday – Sunday, 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Johnsonville Marketplace Address:
N6877 Rio Road
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
(920) 453-5678
Website
