2020 Business Traditions - Roll of Honor

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Business Traditions

Roll of Hono

Thursday, January 30, 2020 // A Brainerd Dispatch & Echo Journal publication

The Pickle turns 70 in 2020 Nisswa municipal liquor operation called community asset

Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

Terry Wallin and Lani Thomsen are longtime employees at Ye Old Pickle Factory in Nisswa. Wallin, manager for the past 10 years, started working there full time in 1991.

Thomsen is in her 35th year as a bartender. They’re standing behind the bar that has the original bartop from the building’s opening in 1971.

I

By Nancy Vogt Echo Journal Editor

t’s quite possible Nisswa’s municipal liquor establishment has the most unique name among city-owned liquor operations in the state.

Ye Old Pickle Factory – more often simply called “The Pickle” - will celebrate its 70th year in 2020.

“I’ve heard – and it’s not very exciting – there was a day, I think it was a Labor Day back in the mid70s, when it was busier than heck in there and the phone kept ringing.

The person who answered said, ‘Pickle Factory,’ so the person would hang up thinking it was a wrong number,” said Wayne Van Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal Vliet, 28-year manager Ye Old Pickle Factory, better known as “The Pickle,” is Nisswa’s municipal liquor of The Pickle, from 1981- operation that turns 70 this year.

2009.

Terry Wallin, Pickle people knew it. It was a control the sale of alcohol, The Pickle has been good to manager for the past 10 fun place,” Van Vliet and making a profit for the Nisswa and its taxpaying years and a full-time said, noting municipals city was supposed to be residents. employee since 1991, has once had a connotation of secondary.

THE PICKLE: Page H5 Regardless of how it got heard other stories as well being expensive and not regarding how The Pickle fun. Their purpose was to its widely known name, got its name. One story says a grandpa told his grandkids he was going to The Pickle Factory, and they thought he was going to buy pickles. Yet another story says the bar was busy License #A-01124-001 — Post 627 — and someone said, “We’re The Get-Together Place putting ‘em in here like BOATS • PONTOONS • DOCKS & LIFTS Serving The Brainerd Lakes Area PUBLIC WELCOME SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE putting pickles in a jar.”

“We avoided using 800-346-2292 218-963-9946 ‘Nisswa Municipal Liquor Fax: (218) 963-4402 25807 Main St., Nisswa Store.’ We used ‘The sales@nisswamarine.com www.nisswalegion.com Pickle.’ It was catchy and www.nisswamarine.com

96 Years

88 Years

74 Years

218-828-1268

Nisswa, MN

61 Years

56 Years

55 Years

54 Years

Historical Tidbits From “Centennial History of Nisswa,” by Earl C. Leslie, 1986: ► Nisswa’s population in 1950, when Ye Old Pickle Factory was founded, was 578. ► The frame municipal liquor store dubbed “The Pickle” was the old Murray chicken coop that was directly west of the new city hall built in 1964. ► In June 1971, Marvin Zimmerman purchased the old frame municipal liquor store and moved it southwest of town. A new building was erected in its place, this one made of stone, concrete and steel.

From a June 15, 2000, Lake Country Echo story on The Pickle Factory’s 50th anniversary: ► The Spotlite was a combination Nisswa cityrun liquor store and lounge, and a dance hall.

The municipal operation was in the front, and the dance hall in the back was operated separately but cooperatively by Larry Bond. ► Pickle profits bought a squad car and land for the city park department. Money was earmarked for city sewer operations and the city’s general fund to provide direct tax relief to property owners. ► “Anything Pickle” was the theme of the June 2000 parade.

74 Years

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40 Years

70 Years

25532 Murray Rd. Nisswa, MN 56468 218-963-0085

40 Years Sandy Strom-Gieseke

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5064 County Road 13 – Schaefer’s Corner PO Box 29, Nisswa, MN 56468 Website: lccnisswa.org Email: lcc@lccnisswa.org Phone: 218-963-2564

38 Years

Nisswa

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33 Years

14 Years

10 Years

23590 Smiley Rd., Nisswa

Nisswa, MN

Boats • Jet Skis • Pontoons Snowmobiles Fish Houses

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3 Years

Escorted Small Group Travel Tours (Maximum 16 people)

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1.5 Years

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Business Traditions

H2 Thursday, January 30, 2020

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

70 years of eye care in downtown Brainerd

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch Staff Writer

A

lot has changed in Brainerd in the last 70 years, with businesses coming and going, the tourism trade expanding and a multitude of other advancements and developments that come with time.

The downtown area has seen its share of alterations as well, from new restaurants, stores, and event spaces, to rental properties popping up and vast array of other establishments setting up shop — or heading out of town.

The corner of South Fifth and Laurel streets is no different, previously housing the Greyhound Bus Depot from 1945 to the 1970s, according to the Crow Wing County Historical Society. The unique rounded building classified as art deco was the only one of its kind in the city.

Though buses stopped arriving at the depot more than 40 years ago, the building still stands today, playing host for the last several decades to Brainerd Eyecare Center, a business with its own long-standing history in the downtown area.

Offering everything from infancy exams to care for senior citizens, contact lenses, glasses and everything in between, Brainerd Eyecare Center opened 70 years ago in the hands of Dr. Eugene Sundberg in an upstairs office elsewhere downtown.The sole doctor in the place, Sundberg later moved his practice to what is now the Arcadia building near the Last Turn Saloon on South Eighth Street before the business found its final home in the old bus depot, where it still sits.

Sundberg retired in the early ‘90s, shortly before Dr. Steve Monda, the practice’s current owner, came on board in 1990. This year marks 30 years for Monda as an optometrist and 30 years serving his hometown.

As a 1982 Brainerd High School Graduate, Monda enjoys being able to work, not only in Brainerd, but downtown, the heart of the city. And thanks to an addition and remodeling work done a few years ago, Monda is confident his business will be able to stay right where it is long term.

The construction project touched up the exterior of the building and added 2,500 square feet, creating

more space for a growing business.

“We had to change the outside of the building a little bit just to make it more energy efficient, but we tried to keep the same architecture with the rounded windows this building has had since it was built,” Monda said Tuesday, Jan. 14, while sitting in an exam chair at his practice. “So we tried our best, and we were nervous about the buildout at first because we were afraid of how people were going to interpret what we were going to do, but we’ve had only the best of comments from people that were impressed with how we did it.”

Old pictures of the building’s former life as a bus depot, along with other antiquated pictures of downtown Brainerd, including one with a horse and buggy parked outside city hall, hang on the eye care center’s walls in an effort to keep that history alive amongst the building’s remodel.

“This building’s got a new lease on life in downtown,” Monda said. “ It’s my hometown, and it just felt like the right thing

73 Years

68 Years

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Dr. Steve Monda, optometrist at Brainerd Eyecare Center, talks about his passion for his job. He has spent the last 30 years at Brainerd Eyecare Center and now owns the practice.

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Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Brainerd Eyecare Center has been operating in the downtown area for 70 years and EYECARE: Page H6 currently sits on the corner of Laurel and South Fifth streets.

Logo 1.6875x2 126 Years.indd 1

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63 Years

to do.”

While the business’s outer look has changed dramatically over the last seven decades, with various location changes and remodel projects, so too have the contents inside.

“One of the things that Dr. Sundberg always said was, ‘The best of technology, the best of equipment,’” Monda said.

“So every year we invest in higher tech equipment or newer stuff that’s out there that allows us to provide better care.”

Eye care technology is constantly changing, he said, and is by far the biggest change he’s seen throughout his 30 years in the business.

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40 Years

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36 Years

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43 Years

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Business Traditions

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

Thursday, January 30, 2020 H3

Second generation prepares to pass torch at Pequot Tool

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

Pequot Tool and Manufacturing is a family affair. Pictured here are Joe Goerges (back row, left) Brian Goerges, Danny Goerges, Matt Goerges and Angela Goerges, Laura Goerges-Stromberg (front row left), Karlo Goerges, Jon Goerges and David Goerges.

n Jenkins of all places a business exists that leaves its mark all over the state or even the country.

Approximately 40 years ago Pequot Tool and Manufacturing had its humble beginnings inside the city of Pequot Lakes, but it started when founder Josef Goerges came to the United States after his family lost their property and flour milling business overseas.

Josef was raised in Yugoslavia before World War II and the family fled country to country to avoid it. They came to the United States after the war and after the Soviet Union had seized their family’s former property, leaving them nowhere to return to during peacetime. Josef came to St. Paul due to the booming flour milling industry there, but instead learned a new trade in

machining — first with Northwestern Tool and Die, then Remmele Engineering. After a long career there he decided to become his own boss and started Dakota Tool & Die in Eagan. In the 1960s he merged with Arrowhead Tool & Die. In the industry he became a mover and shaker, even helping found the Twin City Tool & Die Association, now the Minnesota Precision Manufacturers Association.

In 1972 he nearly replaced machining with the resort life, but that wasn’t to be.

“Joe Sr. was from Arrowhead Tool and Die from the cities,” Brian Goerges said. “He was a master tool and die builder. He had a lot of business experience prior to starting Pequot Tool.

How he ended up in Pequot Lakes was Haze Haven resort on Big Pelican. They bought that resort in 1969

or ‘70. They moved here in ‘72 and Joe Senior was traveling back and forth to the Twin Cities while the resort was being run.

By 1980 they decided they wanted an established manufacturing up here.

That’s how the Pequot location started and got here.”

“One of the reasons dad decided to open the business was because the kids needed a place to work after the resort industry died off,” Joe Goerges said.

“That’s when he decided to go to the cities and bring work back up and start a business.”

Thus was born Pequot Tool and Manufacturing, a precision manufacturing job shop. All the while Josef was joined by his wife and bookkeeper Agnes, who he married in 1953. She undoubtedly had a hand in shaping the company’s priorities, which included charity.

“We’ve been working

34 Years

33 Years

30 Years

By Travis Grimler Echo Journal Staff Writer

I

with the community since day one,” Karlo Goerges said. “Today we’ve got probably two dozen local charities that we work with.”

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29 Years

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Dr. David Anderholm 7115 Forthun RdSuite 105 Baxter, MN 56425

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7734 Excelsior Road North, Baxter Lakesareaeyecare.com

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13 Years

13 Years

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27 Years

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18 Years

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22 Years

PEQUOT: Page H7

Submitted Photo

Baxter, MN 828-4601

23 Years

profits for the year back to our community and get our employees involved in the community as well.”

The original location of Pequot Tool and Manufacturing was a rented pole building in the city of Pequot Lakes. They have since moved to Jenkins in a much larger facility.

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17 Years

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13 Years

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9 Years

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10 Years

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Business Traditions

H4 Thursday, January 30, 2020

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

Little Farm Market Wild Bird Store is more than meets the eye Renee Richardson Brainerd Dispatch Managing Editor or bird-watchers, a store in northeast Brainerd has long been a destination, but there is much more to the Little Farm Market-Wild Bird Store than bird seed.

The business has been part of Brainerd since 1955.

Gwen and Dion Lybeck purchased the business July 1, 2017, from owner Michelle Stanley.

Gwen Lybeck remembers going into the store when it was on Washington Street and buying big jars of olives for her grandmother. With farmers and gardeners bringing in produce, the Little Farm Market was both a link to the past and present when consumers were once again closer to the origins of the food on their table. The Lybecks kept the well-established name but note the store isn’t what some may think of when they envision the typical farmer’s market.

The market and bird store may be thought of as several stores in one — providing everything needed for the avid or casual birdwatchers, offering locally sourced gifts, and supplying produce to both commercial customers and restaurants to individuals hosting graduation parties.

Sometimes they do have produce — be in fresh tomatoes, dill or squash.

But their net goes out farther than that.

“I supply produce to a lot of nursing homes, group homes and day cares and restaurants to the area,” Lybeck said, noting those entities may have orders that are too small for other providers. But if a business with a small kitchen wants one green pepper, two red onions and six tomatoes, the Lybecks order for them

and deliver the produce.

Orders are filled by the Northwestern Fruit Co. in the Twin Cities.

Lybeck said customers include orders like Cash Wise Liquor’s lemons and limes. Another spot has a group of employees putting together an order, be it a bag of shredded lettuce or mushrooms. With about 20 customers who order twice or once a week, or even once in a while, Lybeck sees opportunities for their business on this track with orders, convenience and delivery.

“That’s one of the places I want to grow,” she said of the produce side of the business.

Those orders aren’t limited to commercial customers. Individuals who may be getting ready for a family reunion, graduation party or other event can also order their produce and have it delivered.

Buying the store has been a learning experience, she said.

They weren’t new to a family business operation as they own a tree service and landscape company.

Lybeck was employed with the school district for 12 years. When Stanley, who lived nearby, mentioned an interest in selling the business, the Lybecks took a serious look, even spending time observing at the store. Their son,

Maxon, now 8, was entering kindergarten so the timing fit.

Their oldest daughter, Emily, now 25, was taking college business classes and came home to manage the store. Their younger daughter, now 21, comes home on school breaks and summers to work there.

109 Years

107 Years

84 Years

73 Years

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46 Years

102 Years

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65 Years

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47 Years

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23 Years

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Serving the lakes area since 1974.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Gwen Lybeck (left) and her daughter Emily stand at the counter of the Wild Bird Store Friday, Jan. 17, in northeast Brainerd.

D

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LITTLE FARM: Page H8

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on their bird feeders and look forward to the first reports of bird sightings as the seasons change.

While they were bird feeders themselves, Gwen Lybeck said she never in a million years thought she’d have a bird store.

Downtown Pine River

PINE RIVER

Jeremy Janzen Auctioneer/Broker Janzen Auctioneers / Cummings Janzen Realty

worked for the Stanleys stayed with them.

“It’s kind of just us but we love it,” Gwen Lybeck said.

The customers who feed birds are those who come back on a regular basis.

They share knowledge and look forward to reports of what customers are seeing

001821839r1

F

“We are really big on family and we thought it would be something fun and neat to have this family business,” she said.

“And it kind of came up fast when we decided to do it.”

Family and friends help when they are needed and the delivery driver who

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Business Traditions

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

THE PICKLE “The Pickle has been a tremendous asset to the Nisswa community, not only for its great atmosphere and wonderful staff, but also because each year the profits are used to reduce the city’s general fund levy,” City Administrator Jenny Max said in an email, noting that in 2019, The Pickle had gross receipts of $1.1 million.

In a nutshell, The Pickle and the city’s other municipal liquor store - Spirits of Nisswa – help keep taxes lower for Nisswa residents and businesses.

“In the past four years, The Pickle has contributed $140,000 ($35,000 per year), which helps to offset the costs for services and related equipment that our taxpayers need. Our liquor fund is a resource to our taxpayers by providing a revenue stream which most communities don’t have. Out of the 853 cities in Minnesota, only 190 cities have a municipal, Max wrote.

Compare that number to the 1950s, when Wallin said almost every Minnesota town had a municipal liquor establishment to help generate income for cities.

For 2020, the Nisswa City Council approved an increase in the liquor fund contribution to $40,000 from The Pickle (up from $35,000 in 2019) and

$220,000 from Spirits of Nisswa (up from $200,000 in 2019) to help keep the general fund levy to a 5.22% increase (down from the preliminary levy increase of 9%).

Total contribution from the liquor fund (Pickle and Spirits combined) is $260,000 in 2020.

Liquor funds also help pay for the current city hall, which was built in 2005. The bond was refinanced in 2013 and will be paid off in 2025. Profits from the Pickle and Spirits are used in part to help offset the cost of this debt payment from the city hall bond.

Besides Wallin and Van Vliet, the late John (or Johnny) Lindbom was a longtime Pickle Factory manager, holding that position for more than 20 years, until 1981.

Van Vliet is most proud of the staff he hired during his tenure as manager, many of whom still work there. They include Lani Thomsen, 35 years; Wallin, 29 years; Terry Fischer, 22 years; Tim Crimmins, 20 years; and Shannon Webster, 16 years.

“That’s just not seen in the bar business very often.

There’s usually turnover,” Van Vliet said, noting the city has treated them well.

The customers are the reason Thomsen has worked as a bartender at The Pickle for so many years.

“I thought this was going to be a summer job at (age) 19. I don’t know where the time has gone,” she said, noting she jokingly tells

customers that someday she’s going to write a book about her years at The Pickle.

Wallin said the city built the current Pickle Factory building in summer 1971.

His dad was an umpire and Wallin remembers watching his uncles and cousins play baseball games from the grandstands outside The Pickle when the ballfields faced the opposite direction as now.

“We were never allowed to come inside,” he said.

“Kids weren’t allowed in bars then.”

The Pickle doesn’t employ bouncers as it did in the past. Bouncers were needed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when fights occurred on weekends, Wallin said. Other changes include opening the bar on Sundays starting about 10 years ago, and the bar is smoke-free since the statewide smoking ban was enacted in 2007.

Thomsen said changes she’s noticed in clientele include that the younger generation now wants to be highly entertained.

“We are a first stop for them to get their night going. We don’t keep the crowd. And this generation knows nothing but shuttles,” she said, referring to people taking safe rides home.

The building has undergone remodeling over the years. Van Vliet said he tried to class it up with lighting improvements and bathrooms were remodeled several times.

A major project involved taking out booths and

149 Years

148 Years

138 Years

From Page H1

Thursday, January 30, 2020 H5

Shown is an aerial view of Nisswa City Hall (right), the old Nisswa “Pickle Factory” (left) and the ball diamond, as published in the “Centennial History of Nisswa,” by Earl C. Leslie in 1986. putting in knotty pine walls.

Around 2010, a patio was built overlooking the ballfield and an “up north” look was incorporated with the beam on the front of the building, Wallin said.

The Pickle has the original bartop from the building’s construction in 1971.

Van Vliet shared how famous The Pickle is. He and his family once were at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota waiting for a program to start and people were asked where they were from.

“We stood up and said we were from Nisswa, Minnesota. A lady up

front turned to ask if we’d ever been to The Pickle Factory,” Van Vliet said, adding he opened his jacket to show that he was wearing a Pickle Factory sweatshirt.

The Pickle’s busiest time of year is during the Fall Festival/Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge on a Saturday in mid-September each year, Wallin said. Other busy times are during the Nisswa City of Lights event, held the Friday after Thanksgiving; the Winter Jubilee held annually in mid-February; and Freedom Days held each July 3.

Van Vliet fondly

recalls his days at The Pickle, including a June 2000 parade to celebrate The Pickle’s 50th year. A highlight was the Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) Clydesdales horse team and wagon that was in the anniversary parade.

Of course, he remembers the customers as well.

“We’ve had some real characters. I think of them a lot. Most of them have passed on. It was a place where people would go and have fun and tell stories that carry on today,” he said.

138 Years

136 Years

131 Years

Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA St. Francis Catholic Church

409 North 9th Street, Brainerd

218-822-4040

www.blccnorth.org

127 Years

506 James Street Brainerd, MN

2020 Fair Dates: August 4 - August 8 2000 13TH STREET S.E., BRAINERD, MN 56401

www.isd181.org (218) 454-6900

www.brainerddispatch.com

Continuous Service Since 1882

829-4755

218-829-6680

1420 South 6th Street Brainerd MN (218) 829-5147 www.trinitybrainerd.org

120 Years

117 Years

111 Years

111 Years

111 Years

702 Industrial Park Rd, Brainerd

124 Front Street, Brainerd

The Parker Building Downtown Brainerd

817 Juniper Street, Brainerd

215 South 9th St. • (218)829-2643 BrainerdElks.org • email info@brainerdelks.org

218-829-4216

www.stfranciscatholicschool.org

Phone 829-9674

103 Years

98 Years

85 Years

84 Years

83 Years

Brainerd Elks Lodge #615

829-4705

202 8th Ave. N.E. Brainerd

crowwingcountyfair.com

Brainerd

Eagles Aerie #287

8027 Highland Scenic Rd Baxter MN 56425 218-829-8726

103 Years

www.brainerdelks.org Serving Brainerd Lakes Area Communities, Youth and Veterans

“Community involvement — people helping people”

218-829-2344

SHIPMAN

Lighting the lives of 38,000 members Since 1937

AUTO PARTS

1711 Southeast 13th St. Brainerd, MN 56401

10424 Squaw Point Road Brainerd

218-829-3918 www.erniesongull.com

www.kampmannmillwork.com

82 Years

82 Years

www.clcmn.edu Brainerd Campus 501 West College Drive, Brainerd (218) 855-8000 or 800-933-0346 Staples Campus 1830 Airport Road, Staples (218) 894-5100 or 800-247-6836

74 Years

Don’t Be A Heel, Save Your Soles!

Beth & Curt Watson 509 Washington St Brainerd

Brainerdsavings.com NMLS#410361

80 Years

218-829-4779

www.shipmanauto.com

80 Years

Brainerd BN Credit Union “Serving our members since 1940”

804 Laurel Street Brainerd, MN

www.brainerdjaycees.com

Sales & Service

Since 1940 830 Brook Street • Brainerd, MN

75 Years

74 Years

309 NW 3rd Street

210 10th Avenue NE Brainerd, MN 56401

Brainerd, MN 56401

218-829-4332

(218) 829-3585

www.atekcompanies.com

www.kummetlarsonbluth.com

218-829-4719

63 Years

62 Years

218-829-2496

218-829-9065

www.pikeplumbingandheating.com

72 Years

70 Years

68 Years St. Thomas of the Pines Catholic Chapel

Restaurant

711 Washington Street Brainerd, MN 56401

302 5th Avenue NE Suite 4 Brainerd, MN 56401

S.T. Monda, O.D. J.J. Hanske, O.D. A.M. Archibald-Swanson, O.D. T.J. Swanson, O.D. M.K. Monda, O.D.

11395 Pine Beach Peninsula Rd, East Gull Lake 218-822-4040 www.blccnorth.org

“You’re Locally Owned Backyard Nature and Gift Store”

NorthernEyeCenter.com

New owners as of July 2017!

Brainerd•LittLe FaLLs •stapLes

218-829-9297

chuck@brainerdglass.net www.brainerdglass.net

506 Laurel St., Brainerd

829-0946

Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

516 C St NE, Brainerd, MN

218-829-5436

218-829-2020

62 Years

61 Years

59 Years

55 Years

52 Years

51 Years

schroedersappliance.com

EVERYTHING PRINT

16603 State Hwy 371 North

1022 Madison Street Brainerd, MN 56401 218-829-5982 rangeprinting.com

A 51-year tradition of performing arts excellence.

Your Area Volkswagen Dealer Since 1959

AUTO IMPORT, INC. 22 WASHINGTON ST. BRAINERD, MN

218-829-3307 WWW.AUTOIMPORTVW.COM

(Just North of the Pine Beach Rd)

Brainerd/Baxter

218-829-3624

Colleen Goedker, REALTOR

218-851-3543 BrainerdAreaRealEstate.com

218-855-8199

www.clcperformingarts.com

Business Traditions

H6 Thursday, January 30, 2020

EYECARE From Page H2

“There are tools now that we can detect diseases even before we physically can actually see it in a person’s eye, in particular macular degeneration, early glaucoma, things like that,” Monda said.

“So we’re able to get that and put a stop to it or get the right treatment for it before it becomes a severe issue that you can’t reverse.”

The care of diabetes is another big change Monda credits to the advancements of public health education.

“There used to be a lot of sick eyes here when I started 30 years ago,

eyes that we couldn’t do anything with anymore,” he said. “And with the education process now, getting the right A1C and the blood sugars down, I rarely see those super sick eyes anymore.”

That technological growth helps Monda and his team provide the best care possible for their patients, which was Sundberg’s goal from the start and continues to be Monda’s mission going forward. He also deems it as the secret to running a successful business with such longevity.

“Patients first,” Monda said. “All the decisions you make need to be in the patients’ best interest, not your own. And our whole staff believes it.”

That staff is another factor Monda credits with Brainerd Eyecare Center’s decades of success.

“I’ll say one thing for sure, and this is first and foremost, our staff,” he said. “My staff is second to none. It’s like a big family. We have a lot of fun. We work hard, but we have fun with each other and we always bend over backwards to help each other out.”

That staff includes Monda and four other optometrists — Josh Hanske, Ali Archibald, Taylor Swanson and Michael Monda — along with 14 other employees, which include three billing staff, a file clerk, two front desk receptionists, three opticians, two medical

coders and an office manager.

Monda’s son, Michael, joined the practice as an optometrist last summer.

Thirty years after becoming an eye doctor, Monda still loves his work and still remembers what drew him to optometry in the first place.

“I got a pair of glasses in the seventh grade because I couldn’t see the chemistry chart on the wall,” he said. “I walked out of the doctor’s office, and I couldn’t believe the difference in my life. It was like, trees actually had leaves. It wasn’t just a green blob and a brown stick. And so, from that point on, seventh grade, I knew this is what I would do one day.”

And it’s a profession that still has the doctor excited about coming to work each day, especially because of the love he has for his patients.

“After 30 years, you see these people and you get to know them. You know their parents, you know their kids, you know their grandkids now. So you know them and they’re more like friends, and you can run into them in the street and you recognize each other,” he said, noting losing his patients will be the hardest element to endure when he ultimately decides to retire down the road.

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Dr. Steve Monda, owner of Brainerd Eyecare Facility, shows some of the historical photos he put up on the walls of his practice to show the history of downtown Brainerd.

The business’current building used to be the Greyhound Bus Depot.

notch services to those in more rural parts of the lakes area as well through a satellite clinic at Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia.

The service is certified high quality according to area residents, who voted Brainerd Eyecare Center the No. 1 Best Eye Clinic in the Brainerd Dispatch’s 2019 Best of the Brainerd Lakes contest.

Every Tuesday, a couple of Monda’s staff bring their services to Onamia for the more rural residents in that area.

“We offer the same care there that we do here. So sometimes they’ll have to Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Other services come over here if there’s A photo hanging on the wall at Brainerd Eyecare Facility show the building as it once Though located in special tests where the stood as the Greyhound Bus Depot on the corner of Laurel and South Fifth streets in Brainerd, Monda and his machines are portable, downtown Brainerd. staff extend their top- but it’s a neat system

51 Years

51 Years Years 51

51 Years

50 Years

Celebrating 51 years of service.

over there,” Monda said.

“They built this beautiful hospital, and the thought was, let’s bring all the people that provide care from surgeons to psychologists to whatever — to optometrists — let’s bring them to town here so our townspeople just have to come to the hospital.”

And to better serve its more local customers, Brainerd Eyecare Center extends its hours to 7 p.m.

Tuesdays and is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, for those who might not be able to come in during the work week, further committing to Monda’s “patients first” motto.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch. com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa.

49 Years BOB’S HELIARC WELDING

48 Years E-Bikes

Precision ProPeller Works

829-9168

6720 Pine Beach Rd. Brainerd

218-829-4787

www.dondelingerauto.com

47 Years

Family owned and operated for 51 years

unitedwaynow.org

47 Years

47 Years

Phone 218-851-2244

41 Years

• New! Propeller Sales • BRAINERD INDUSTRIAL PARK

46 Years

44 Years

BURTON

ROSSIGNOL

easyridersbikes.com 415 Washington St. Brainerd, MN

218-829-5516

42 Years

We’ve got you covered!

Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association Essentia Health Sports Center 502 Jackson Street, Brainerd

302 South Sixth Street P.O. Box 411 Brainerd, MN 56401 218-829-1451 (main) www.brainerdlaw.com

Marine & Motorsports,Welding, Propellers, Lower Units, SKEGS, & Cracked Engine Block Repairs

4805 Ojibwa Road Brainerd, MN 56401 Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Brainerd, Minnesota

41 Years “Your One-Stop, Locally-Owned

14250 Conservation Drive Brainerd, MN 56401

218-330-6067 www.LittleYukon.com

218-829-8770 www.northlandarb.org

41 Years

41 Years

You’re not far from a convenient GuidePoint Pharmacy with 6 Lakes Area locations!

TREE SERVICE INC.

Brainerd, MN Fully Equipped & Insured

www.guidepointpharmacy.com

1505 State 210 S.W. 829-0133

41 Years

41 Years

Medical Supply Company.”

BRAINERD MEDICAL SUPPLY FREE Delivery in our service area!

Major Credit Cards Accepted 24 Hour Emergency Oxygen Service We Process Medical Assistance, Medica, Blue Cross, Medicare and Most Insurance.

Greg A. Anderson, LUTCF Agent

206 W. Washington St., Brainerd

218-828-4197

218-829-2100

40 Years

218-829-9345

24-Hour Domestic Violence Shelter

(Located in the Tyrol Hills Shopping Center) www.brainerdmedicalsupply.com

40 38 Years Years

40 Years

Greg A. Anderson, LUTCF

www.thebrainerdcenter.com

(218) 828-1216

Financial Services Professional

midminwomenscenter.blogspot.com

828-4197

803 Kingwood Street Brainerd, MN 56401

39 Years

39 Years

38 Years

We believe dance class should start with eager anticipation and end with happy memories

Westgate Mall • Brainerd/Baxter

5 GREAT LOCATIONS 218-829-5804

Dance Studio & Video/Audio Production www.mikehamadupholstery.com

829-0076

416 S. 7th St. Brainerd 001674511r1

38 Years

37 Years

Main Street • Nisswa

(Next to Martin’s Sports Shop) 218-963-3023

Town Square • Crosslake 218-692-5505 Main Street • Crosby 218-545-5000 Rafferty’s Delivery and Take-N-Bake

1021 Industrial Park Road, Brainerd, MN 56401

218-829-7599 www.orhwv.com

justforkix.com | 218-829-7107

37 Years

37 Years

409 West Washington, Brainerd • 218-454-9000

raffertyspizza.com

37 Years

A Community Supporter and Locally Owned Company

218-829-5588

www.mickeyspizza.com

829-2881 18441 State Hwy 371 Brainerd

36 Years

35 Years

417 South 5th Street Brainerd, MN 56401

Scott Parsons Agency

828-4488

“Serving the insurance needs of the Lakes Area”

Rolf Moen, D.D.S. Jeff Mattson, D.D.S. Jenna Ude, D.D.S.

Laurie Hall, Agent

www.hannekeninsurance.com

(218) 829-4243 www.lakecountrydentalmn.com

326 West Laurel Street Brainerd, MN 56401 Bus - 218.828.0460 • Fax - 218.828.0576 laurie.hall.b5du@statefarm.com Toll Free - 800.828.0460 www.lauriehall.net

34 Years

33 Years

32 Years

Little Falls Brainerd Pierz Pine River

402 James Street, Brainerd, MN 56401

Better fresh.

Better valu.

Better than ever!

OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK

East Brainerd Mall

828-1816

37 Years

www.theofficeshopinc.com

Contact us Today For All Your Hearing Aid Needs

America can depend on Farmers

608 Kingwood St. Brainerd, MN 56401

www.brainerdsportsboosters.org

Transforming our Community Through the Power of Mentoring

kinshippartners.org

1-800-458-0895 17274 State Hwy 371, Brainerd www.preferredhearingaidcenter.com

7790 Hastings Road Baxter, MN 56425 (218) 828-0110 www.avantech.com

712 Maple Street Brainerd MN 56401 218.828.9000 211 MN Ave N Aitkin MN 56431 218.927.6911

32 Years

Crisis Line And referrAL serviCe 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK 828-HELP (4357) OR 1-800-462-5525

Business Traditions

pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

PEQUOT Today the company prides itself in annual, employee-initiated food shelf drives every March.

They have raised over $50,000 for area food shelves over the years and over $20,000 for the United Way. Their charity also goes to benefit the local schools, Kinship Partners, Habitat for Humanity and several charities that support the manufacturing industry. They particularly pride themselves in working with Lakes Area Manufacturing, Bridges Workplace Connection and others.

“One longer term thing we’ve been passionate about for years is giving back to manufacturing,” Brian said.

“Being involved with schools through apprenticeship programs and those types of things that we continue to this day. We have dedicated training people inside the company and apprenticeship programs, internships and that type of thing. It’s always been a long term goal to give back to manufacturing.”

That charitable spirit was all inherited from Josef and Agnes.

Josef put some serious thought into naming the business. Not only did adopting the name of the city of Pequot Lakes make sense, it also played into the Native American related names of several

of the other companies he had started or worked with.

“We had a lot of choices back then,” Joe said. “The one I kind of favored was Gee Whiz, but that never took hold. We thought about calling it Goerges Industries but that didn’t stick either. We thought we could attach Pequot Lakes to it. It had a good sound and we liked the area.”

“Also, grandpa had previously been part of Arrowhead and I think he really liked that Pequot was a Native American tribe name,” Laura GoergesStromberg said. “A teepee was originally on our logo and letterhead. I think there was some heritage behind that, too.”

The business has changed since its founding.

First, it used to be located inside of the city of Pequot Lakes in one of the current Andy’s Small Engine Repair buildings. Before the doors even opened the company already had a customer and a product in what one might call preproduction.

“Pequot Tool opened its doors in Pequot Lakes,” Brian said. “It was on Woodman and Front Street next to the truss and joist business. A small 5,000 square foot factory. Prior to starting at that location, mom and dad basically were working with a company called Trailhead Industries where they designed and manufactured vent products before the doors opened. There was a

pending product coming in before the company was formed.”

The business produces made-to-order products, which means their customers own the designs of the products they make, but Pequot Tool manufactures them as needed.

“We’re a job shop,” Brian said. “Our customers order parts from us and we make the parts. In the long term those parts are only theirs. We own the manufacturing process, the customer owns the parts.”

They have many different processes they use to manufacture those parts including milling and stamping.

The products they build end up in many places.

Magnum Research in Pillager, maker of the Desert Eagle handgun, uses Pequot Tool and Die parts. Customers also include Elite Industries, Northland Machining and at businesses all over the country.

“A lot of our stuff goes into point of sale applications,” Jon Goerges said. “You’ll see our stuff at just about every single check-out at Target, Fleet Farm, Menards. Every time you check out you are interacting with a part we made.”

Parts manufactured in Jenkins are in planes flying all over the world.

“Every time you get on an airplane there are parts there that we made,” Jon said. “Every Boeing

32 Years

32 Years

31 Years

From Page H3

BRAINERD lptv.org 28 Years

Custom Residential & Commercial Construction 11360 Business 371 Brainerd, MN

Thursday, January 30, 2020 H7

has stuff we made. A lot of Airbuses and a lot of regional jets as well. If you are flying you are probably interacting with a part we made.”

Of course, a business with these kinds of ties goes through a lot of growth. Not only has the business had 13 additions and expansions, it long ago outgrew the building where it started.

When the company first started, there were only five employees (all but one a Goerges), but by the time that number grew to nearly 20 in 1989 they needed more space for people and equipment, and so they moved the facility to Jenkins.

“When it came to the move from Pequot to Jenkins we did that on a Saturday and Sunday,” Brian said. “We shipped product out from Pequot on a Friday, and on Monday we had a large order of Vent Hoods and

we shipped them from this facility. It was a rat race from Saturday to Sunday of bringing seven punch presses, four to five CNC machines, other little machines, all the materials and racks. The movers we had only had so much time.

Whatever we could haul in pickup trucks or drive a fork lift or whatever we could use to get up here.

It was everything we could do to get established.”

That relocation made lots more growth possible.

Today the employees number 187 and every Thanksgiving they take that count in turkeys.

“My mom and dad were very proud of starting the business here and talked about the ethics,” Brian said. “There was a Thanksgiving tradition that started here from year one where they would buy a turkey for everyone that worked for the company.

We still do that to this day. Every year we ask how many turkeys the company grew by every year. That was just one of the pieces they would measure the business by.”

The company got as far as they are today by following the examples set by their founder who died in 2016 at the age of 87.

“Work ethic,” Joe said.

“That’s what dad instilled in us. Work hard, pay yourself right and you can get a good living.”

Just as in the past, Pequot Tool & Manufacturing has changes coming in its future. Many employees remember another of

Josef’s mantras, “Work smarter, not harder” and they see that as part of their growth strategy as the company adopts more automation and multi-use machines. The company also has to tackle the challenges that come with any family company that lasts more than a certain number of years: passing the torch.

“One of the things that is a challenge with a company our size. We are in an interesting situation.

We are going from second generation to third generation,” Karlo said.

The key, they say, is going to be in growing sustainably and focusing on their past successes.

“Our growth is going to come from focusing on what we do best,” Chad said. “We are a very diverse organization with a lot of processes and a lot of different departments.

As we focus on those different areas we have a broad group of people and a broad expertise, we will continue to grow in those areas.”

“We’re looking as the company evolves at becoming sustainable in scale and growth so that as we grow as a company we don’t have the super highs and super lows and we are always a dependable, stable company — not only for customers but for employees and the community,” Brian said.

30 Years

30 Years

30 Years

Submitted Photo

Agnes Goerges, pictured here with Josef Goerges, kept the company’s books and guided Pequot Tool and Manufacturing along a path of success with her husband.

They also determined the company’s priorities which still include charitable giving.

1223 Oak Street | Brainerd, MN 218-829-7790 kthesing@lakesprinting.com www.lakesprinting.com

www.hytecconstruction.com

Brainerd 218-829-3501 Nisswa 218-963-3424 www.brainerdcpa.com

26 Years

26 Years

25 Years

829-8529

Travis Grimler may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@ pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www. twitter.com/@PEJ_Travis.

Brainerd

828-4188 www.icefishing.org

25 Years

northcountryservicesmn.com

25 Years

EST. 1992

WE CAN HELP WITH ALL YOUR APPAREL NEEDS

Residential & Commercial New Construction & Remodels

Servicing Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Aitkin, Todd, Wadena and other counties.

829-0029

218-828-2815

204 South 8th Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 218-828-3910

www.brainerdrental.com

218-829-4112

25 Years

24 Years

24 Years

24 Years

WWW.MNTSHIRT.COM

“We Sell Fun” 5906 Pine Beach Road Brainerd, MN 56401

218-825-8207

13377 State Hwy. 25 Brainerd, MN 56401

218-828-4728 800-450-7669

info@mikestreecompany.com mikestreecompany.com

www.brainerdsports.net

23 Years

23 Years

722 South 6th St. Brainerd, MN 56401

218.825.7030 www.edshawlaw.com

22 Years

218-829-7029

www.lakesareapregnancy.org

23 1/2 Years

23 Years

A Locally Owned, Printed, and Published Magazine

13540 Ironwood drIve BraInerd, Mn 56401

1022 Madison Street Brainerd, MN 56401

218-828-6424 lakecountryjournal.com

www.shannonsautoBody.coM

22 Years

1001 Kingwood Street, Studio 228 Brainerd, 56401 (in the Franklin Arts Building)

laya@lakesareayoga.org www.lakesareayoga.org

218-829-6764

19 Years

19 Years

Chem Dry of the Lakes

“36 Years Experience”

825-0522

Superior Carpet, Upholstery Cleaning, Wood & Vinyl Floors, Tile & Grout, Granite Counter Top Renewal

609 Laurel Street, Brainerd Mn 56401

15 Years

218-828-4320 www.chemdryofthelakes.com Serving Crow Wing, Aitkin, Morrison, Southern Cass & Todd Counties

“Your downtown bookstore!”

All work is performed by owners Jeff & Tracy.

Independently Owned & Operated

15 Years

15 Years

13 Years

218-825-8611

Thanks for your business in 2019

Thank you for voting us #1 Cleaning service in the Brainerd Lakes Area 2 yrs in a row.

18092 State Highway 371 Brainerd, MN 56401 218-297-0130

(Downtown Brainerd)

www.northcountryfloralmn.com

19 Years

www.atlasabastract.com

Brainerd 315 East River Road, Ste 1 Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 825-0793 Staples 616 4th Street NE Staples, MN 56479 (218) 895-5200

365-Day Alex & Brandon Child Safety Center (218) 828-0022 midminwomenscenter.blogspot.com

12 Years

All Saints Catholic Church 1 Washington Street N.E.

218-829-1668

6967 Lake Forest Road Baxter, MN 56425

218-822-5634

arrowwoodbrainerd.com S.THOMAS ASSOCIATES

Danae Blanck Anderson, ASID, CID

118 Washington St. • Brainerd

HomeInstead.com/551

idyourworld@gmx.com www.idyourworld-mn.com

GreenheckAutoGlass.com

9 Years

8 Years

7 Years

Truth Lutheran Church

201 S. 6th Street Historic Downtown Brainerd

16384 Airport Road, Suite #8 Brainerd, MN 56401 (218)829-3398

218.824.0077

ESTATE SALES SERVICES

11 Years

Shop • Donate • Volunteer Proceeds support Bridges of Hope HOURS: MON-SAT 10-6

BAXTER: 218.824.0923 CROSSLAKE: 218.692.7682

11 Years

EstatE salEs S.THOMAS

ASSOCIATES

ESTATE SALES SERVICES

(Steve and Julie Foy-owners) www.sthomasestatesales.com 218-851-0834 • Brainerd, MN

218-824-6065

108 S 6th St, Brainerd

An LCMC Congregation …Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ Sunday worship 9 AM Fellowship and Sunday school following worship

501 Kingwood Street, Brainerd, MN (Corner of 5th & Kingwood) truthlutheranchurch.com

218-330-2338

218-824-0712

northpointaviation.net

16898 Carlson Lake Road Baxter 218-822-4040 www.blccnorth.org

2 Years

In Historic Downtown Brainerd 606 Laurel Street 218-454-sage www.sageonlaurel.com

Business Traditions

H8 Thursday, January 30, 2020

LITTLE MARKET From Page H4

“I enjoy watching the different types of birds that come in,” Lybeck said, adding when they bought the store she knew the main birds but now it’s fun to know all the different breeds.

“It’s fun in the spring when people start talking about the birds they’ve seen and when the purple finches arrive,” she said.

That sense of community was appealing. Stanley had grown the business and Lybeck said the people who came through the doors weren’t just customers they were friends.

“That really appealed to me, both of us I think, the customers,” Lybeck said.

“All in all, it‘s fun and we enjoy it and you are always learning something.”

Customers can come in and bag their own seed, choosing from the varieties displayed in 20 large bins.

They can buy 5 ounces or 50 pounds. Make their own mixes or buy bags that are all ready to go.

Steve’s Mix, their most popular bird seed blend, has been around for 20 years. There is also straight black oil seed or a mix with thistle and sunflower seeds.

If customers come in and have a question about garden seed or bird feeding, Lybeck said they’ll search out the answer if they don’t know it themselves, even calling their vendors.

Their own customers also share their expertise on gardening and birds.

But that’s not all the store has to offer. Lybeck said a lot of people think the store is either just bird seed and feeders or a traditional farmer’s market. Others, even though they’ve been part of the community for 65 years, may not know about the store or realize it’s been on the east side of town near Cash Wise Liquors and the new Dairy Queen since 2007.

The store’s name was already established when the Lybeck’s bought it but Gwen Lybeck noted that can give people just a small glimpse of what they do.

They do sell pretty much anything related to birds, but in addition to the bird store and the market, they are a gift store focused on local products or items from the region.

Items include All Things Herbal soaps and lotions from Pequot Lakes, Gene Hicks Gourmet Coffee from Ely, hair scrunchies and bands from a woman from Palisade, kitchen scrubbies made by a retired woman

97 Years

and bird feeders that look like porch swings made by an older gentleman from Brainerd.

The store includes books, puzzles, adult coloring books, locally made greeting cards, and consignment for people who make bird houses in their homes. Other items include The Secret Garden jams, jellies and soup mixes from Park Rapids, Crapola Granola from Ely, and Smude Sunflower Oil from Pierz — including flavored and infused varieties. Smude offers a wide variety of flavors from vanilla infused to tomato basil, lemon and lime among a host of others. They have honey from Hillman and wild rice from Aitkin and maple syrup from Brainerd.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Lybeck includes old fashioned Christmas candy Feeders and seed line the shelves Friday, Jan 17, at the Wild Bird Store in northeast Brainerd. with rock candy and ribbon candy, chocolate stars and chocolate covered peanuts.

Lybeck and her daughter Emily sell items they craft with mesh and burlap wreaths and designer tile coasters.

Newly added are candles from Superior, Wisconsin, “So we are always trying to grow that part too with different types of gifts,” Lybeck said. “We do a lot of special orders, too.”

They also look for bird feeders people may have seen and want and can get orders in typically in a week or earlier.

On a bitterly cold January day, Lybeck was able to focus on spring as she put together her spring seed order. She always had a small garden.

“I’m always learning,” she said. “During garden season, we have seed Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch potatoes, asparagus roots, garlic” in addition to Karleen Young weighs and packs bird seed Jan. 17 at Little Farm Market-Wild Bird Store in northeast Brainerd Friday. seeds. And they want to move into starter plants with tomatoes and pepper plants ready to go for customers. In the fall, they usually sell corn stalks and straw bales purchased locally from a grower southeast of Brainerd.

“I’m really big on shopping local if I can,” Lybeck said. “I’d rather support someone local if I need ink I’d rather go to the Office Shop and buy Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch it.”

Feeders and seed line the shelves Friday, Jan 17, at the And sometimes they’ll Wild Bird Store in northeast Brainerd. have farmer’s market produce like squash. www.fnbnorth.com So the store that’s more www.fnbnorth.com than its name suggests continues to grow what it provides to customers six decades after its first owners made their start here.

118 Years

Since 1902 Since 1902

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. Follow on Twitter at www. twitter.com/DispatchBizBuzz.

55 Years

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48 Years

47 Years

42 Years

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