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“We opened during the perfect storm,” Mercord said. “COVID hit and 90 percent of our prospective customers were bars. Ptacek’s IGA was our saving grace.”

Mercord and Schoenrock used that time to slowly ease into the business. Mercord believes it would have been more difficult had they been up and running for a year before the pandemic struck.

“At first, we saw It as a challenge,” Mercord said. “The Prescott community has really stepped up and supported us.”

With 27 varieties to choose from, it would be tough for your tastebuds to tire. Customers can pick from three types of crust (thin, thick or gluten-free), red or white sauce, and tons of unique combinations, as well as trusty favorites.

Schoenrock’s favorite is the Avocado Poblano, which boasts chicken, poblano sauce, tomatoes and black olives. Mercord’s pick for white sauce favorite is hands-down the Chicken Alfredo, while his red sauce go-to is the Delectable Deluxe, which is smothered with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and green peppers.

“The goal is to have a different pizza every week,” Mercord said. “We are working on featured pizzas.”

Mama K’s brand began with Mercord’s former in-laws Jeff and Sherrie Kramer in La Crosse.

“Sherrie is Mama K,” Mercord said.

Mercord is still close to the Kramers, who owned Kramer’s Bar & Grill in La Crosse. They began making their own pizzas at the bar, which has since been sold. In 2013, the Kramers began selling their frozen pizzas to bars and gas stations in the La Crosse area. They still operate their branch of the wholesale business in La Crosse, while Mercord and Schoenrock operate in this area.

“With the Twin Cities right in the backyard,” it made sense to open a Mama K’s wholesale operation in Prescott, Mercord said. He grew up in Prescott, while Schoenrock hails from St. Paul.

As for ingredients, Mama K is very picky on what is allowed on the pizzas, Schoenrock said. Mama K meticulously researched sauce recipes, cheeses, meats and vegetable producers, Mercord added. Only the freshest ingredients make their way onto a Mama K crust.

“We are not going to deviate from quality,” Mercord said.

Schoenrock is in charge of operations, which includes four employees who assemble and freeze the pizzas at their commercial kitchen. The kitchen is located in the former Jacques Seed building, which brings Mercord back to his youth when he worked for them. He even found old seed packets when they were moving into their space.

Mama K’s Prescott pizzas can be found in 30 area locations, including Ptacek’s IGA, Churchill Market and No Name Saloon in Prescott; Nauti Hawg in Diamond Bluff; Nilssen’s, Niki’s East Ender and Cenex in Ellsworth; Grocery in Red Wing; Mooney’s Rusty Horse in Spring Valley; and many more. Mercord said they have seen an uptick in business as COVID restrictions ease; they will deliver to any business in a one-hour radius with plans to expand their reach in the works. They currently make between 600 and 800 pizzas per week.

Mama K’s also works with area groups for fundraisers. Recently, a Boy Scout troop sold more than 500 pizzas.

To learn more, email Schoenrock at [email protected] or visit their Facebook page: Mama K’s Frozen Pizza – Prescott, WI