Tony Liedl and Kevin Brylski are really “cleaning up” Chippewa Falls, where they offer handmade body bars, bath bombs, shampoos, lip balms, and other wellness essentials at Ope! It’s Soap, their store at 116 N. Bridge Street. And if you can’t make it to Tony and Kevin’s shop, don’t get in a lather—they have an online store as well!

“I had wanted to make soap,” said Tony, a graphic designer by trade. “But I never had time to delve into it.” It was a gift from Kevin that launched a hobby-turned-business. The two met in December, 2015.

“I was invited to go to bar trivia down at the Sheeley House in Chippewa Falls,” Tony said. “I was sitting there with four of my friends, and in walks this guy and sits down across from me. He was mutual friends with them.” That, of course, was Kevin. They soon learned they grew up in the same neighborhood.

Over time, their feelings for each other grew, and eventually Tony shared how he felt with Kevin. “He said he was feeling the same way,” Tony said. “We got together, and it’s been magic ever since.”

The couple had just returned from their wedding trip when the pandemic hit. With time on their hands, Kevin gifted his new husband with a little soap making kit.

“He had known that I always wanted to make soap,” Tony said. “It was very sweet, and we had a lot of fun with it. “But I thought, ‘That was fun, but I want to learn how to make it from scratch.’ I don’t want to just learn how to melt and pour soap.”

Tony began by researching the subject and joining Facebook groups that offered recipes and helpful tips. He started with pure olive oil soap then looked into other ingredients and how they affect the skin. “I kind of kept tweaking my recipe until it became one that I really enjoyed,” Tony said. When he started exploring fragrances, Tony discovered Midwest Fragrance Co., also located in Chippewa Falls.

“I started off doing craft shows,” Tony said. “And those were a lot of work, actually. Carrying totes and totes of product that weigh hundreds of pounds was pretty backbreaking.”

A friend knew of a storefront opening downtown. It was the right move at the right time.  “I looked into it, talked with the landlord, and we said, ‘let’s try it for a year,’” Tony said. “And it really stuck.”

Midwest Flavor 

“Oh my gosh, it smells so good in here.”

That’s the comment most make upon entering, Tony said. With fragrances like “Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Fireside Embers” mingling with “Cozy Cashmere,” the aroma welcomes all but the most scent-sensitive.

The above-named scents belong to some of the artisanal body bars offered by Ope! It’s Soap. But what do their soaps with names like “Ope!” and “Welp” smell like?

“I call it the signature collection,” Tony said. “They’re boxes of soap, and they’re all named after Wisconsin slang terms like ‘You betcha’ and ‘Geez Louise.’ And each box has a fun little saying on the back that ties into the scent of the soap and the name it was given.”

Here’s the description of “You Betcha!” body bar, for example: “Ya know, if you like that classic barbershop smell, you’ll love this soap. You betcha! With notes of amber, rum, with a light top note of musk and bay.” Other inspired scents include “Queen of the Night” and “Love is Love” for your queerest friends, or those who simply want to smell a little gay.

Rounding out the collections of handmade soaps are products like shampoo bars and room and body sprays. But probably the most popular items are the body butters.

The body butter called “Wissota Sun” has a beachy fragrance and contains body glitter. It is named after Lake Wissota.

Community Support 

“Chippewa Falls has really come a long way,” Tony said, in reference to the city being a friendly place to be openly queer. Back in the 90s, he said, it wasn’t uncommon to see a T-shirt with a homophobic slogan on display at the mall. He also experienced workplace discrimination at a large retailer in the area.

And while it’s certainly a mark of progress for a proudly LGBTQ-owned company to be a downtown success, Tony said there have been issues with neighborhood kids.

“I make soap in my basement,” Tony said. “I also live right next to the high school, and a lot of the kids will walk by my house after school is let out. One day, I was making soap in my basement, and I hear, ‘We don’t want gays in our neighborhood!’”

At that moment, Tony froze. But later, he made a Facebook post that he said got the attention of a lot of the right people. String Theory Studio, a local craft store, created “Hate Has No Home Here” and similar signs that soon appeared throughout Tony and Kevin’s neighborhood.

The Road Ahead 

Not only is Ope! It’s Soap here to stay, the story recently moved to a new location where there is more foot traffic. “It’s kind of funny because String Theory Studio—who started the movement with those yard signs—is in the same building,” Tony said.

In the future, Tony and Kevin plan to grow the business in several ways.

“We will continue to expand our footprint in our new downtown location,” Tony said. “At the same time, we remain committed to transitioning our products to more eco-friendly packaging, aligning with our mission to reduce environmental impact.” They are also looking for ways to increase their online and social media presence.

“I have an eco-friendly refill station with big jugs of soaps, shampoos, and conditioners for people to refill their own containers and pay by weight,” Tony said.

As for the commitment to sustainability, Ope! It’s Soap recently received an award as the best business for eco-friendly products and services in Chippewa Valley.

The store was also voted “best of” in other categories.

“My store won first place in ‘Best Shop Pet’ because I often have my dogs at the store,” Tony said. “They are Willie, Molly, and Bruce.”