Chris Buske (back right) opened Wonders of Nature, 416 S. Barstow St., last November. Now he's adding a cafe to the CBD business.

Many people feel intimidated entering a store that specializes in cannabis, according to local licensed cannabis grower, Chris Buske. After opening his cannabidiol – or CBD – store Wonders of Nature last November on Barstow Street, Buske wanted to do something with the extra space in his store that would help eliminate the social stigma of cannabis and CBD for newbies.

That’s why Buske decided to open Wonders of Nature Cafe, 416 S. Barstow St., a new cafe in downtown Eau Claire that will feature CBD-infused muffins, cookies, brownies, and smoothies.

Wonders of Nature Cafe will feature tea, coffee, baked goods, juices, smoothies, and more.

“I’m really excited for people to see that this business can be done in a way that isn’t just playing off of the marijuana scene, kind of that rebel-type scene,” Buske said, “but that it can be done more medicinally, more therapeutic – in a way that can make people feel comfortable.”

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“I’m really excited for people to see that this business can be done in a way that isn’t just playing off of the marijuana scene ... but that it can be done more medicinally, more therapeutic – in a way that can make people feel comfortable.”

chris buske

WONDERS OF NATURE HEMP PRODUCTS

Their cafe will feature locally sourced ingredients, with honey from Bee Alchemy in Augusta, coffee from Sole Brewed Coffee Roasters in Fall Creek, and kombucha, tea, and cold brew from Elder Valley Farm in Fall Creek. All of the baked goodies contain organic ingredients, and they plan to expand their menu as they hit the ground running, according to cafe manager Jasmine Bylander. They also have organic, gourmet juices and whole-food smoothies without refined sugars to encourage locals to stay healthy. Some of their products feature CBD and some of them do not. This provides locals the option to try CBD or to stick with what they may already be comfortable with.

“This will be a way for people to be able to try a CBD product and see that it can be a good experience, and that it doesn’t need to be scary,” Buske said.

The furniture and many of the interior features of the Wonders of Nature Cafe were created by the same local woodworker who designed and furnished much of SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar. All of the tables are built from locally sourced materials, and the cafe features many repurposed materials, Buske said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting more people in the community and connecting with people who have common interests with me within Eau Claire,” said Bylander, who studies culinary management at Chippewa Valley Technical College. “This is a really cool opportunity to get connected with more people and show my skills.”

 Cafe manager Jasmine Bylander adds CBD oil to some hot tea.

Wonders of Nature Cafe was originally slated to open in April, but because of the pandemic, Buske monitored local health restrictions and waited patiently to open. On Monday, Nov. 2, Buske will celebrate the official grand opening of Wonders of Nature Cafe.

“So much of business is a gamble,” he said. “This is a scary adventure, basically, to open a new restaurant like this, a new cafe, during the midst of a potential shutdown again. It’s hard enough to open a business. It’s harder – almost 100 times harder – being a cannabis-related business.”

Wonders of Nature • 416 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 497-8740 • wondersofnatureonline@gmail.com • www.wondersofnatureonline.com