MARSHFIELD − James Hederer was born and raised in Marshfield and lived here the first 20 years of his life. He moved away in his early 20s and spent about 30 years living in various places across the country, including 20 years in California, before returning with his partner, Mario Ortega, in late 2021.

Hederer and Ortega own the former Crabby Dave's building and are ready to open a new home goods store in the city's downtown that will feel very different from other home goods shops in the area, they say.

"I wanted to bring back some of the things I've experienced in my lifetime," Hederer said.

Mode de Vie, which translates to "lifestyle" from French, will host a soft opening on Wednesday at 111 W. Second St., the former home of local candle-making business Kailey’s Kandles Co., owned and operated by Kriss Schmitt. Schmitt relocated her storefront in January to 119 S. Central Ave., next to Uptown Coffee Co.

"When you walk in it's a whole new world," Ortega said of the new downtown business.

The couple said they wanted to open a home goods store but with more hand-picked items. They also wanted to carry a variety of items from right here in Marshfield as well as from Wisconsin.

The store will feature olive oils and balsamic vinegars from Green Bay Olive Oil Co. and gourmet spices from s.a.l.t. sisters from Indiana on one side of the business, and the other side will include candles and other decorative home items.

Hederer said they currently have about 20 gourmet seasoning items from the s.a.l.t. sisters company − from cheese ball seasoning mixes to steak rubs − and they eventually hope to carry their entire line.

"Flavor starts here in Marshfield," said Ortega, who is from southern California. "Nobody in town has these (types of spices). People have to go to Penzeys stores in Appleton or Madison to get them now."

The store will also feature premade gift baskets ranging in price from $10-$100.

"We want to be a one-stop shop for all your home-style needs," Hederer said.

This isn't the couple's first foray into the local business world. Ortega and Hederer, who has many years of restaurant experience, briefly operated the bar at Crabby Dave's, 501 S. Central Ave., when it closed in June 2022 after more than 30 years in business.

"We only ran it briefly but the community was asking for their Crabby Dave's back," Hederer said.

They reopened just the bar area in November and it has since been leased to Wendi Smith, who operates it as Fleur de Lis Cafe and Lounge. Fleur De Lis had previously operated a catering kitchen out of Opportunity Development Centers in Marshfield.

Hederer and Ortega said being a part of the community, including finding ways to make charitable donations, is very important to them and it is something they have both done for years.

The soft opening for Mode de Vie will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. There will be gift baskets and a professional pizza oven will be given away as a door prize. The public is invited to attend.

Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It will be closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, follow Mode de Vie on Facebook.

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Editor Jamie Rokus can be contacted at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.

This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Mode de Vie brings spices, olive oils and home goods to Marshfield