2019 Roll of Honor
Business Traditions Thursday, January 31, 2019
An Echo Journal & Brainerd Dispatch Publication
PEQUOT LAKES
40 YEARS LATER CAMPBELL FAMILY IS STILL MOVING HOUSES By Nancy Vogt Echo Journal Editor
Jerry Jr. and Mike bought the company from their parents. In 2005, Jerry Jr. and hen Jerry Campbell Linda became the sole owners. “I like helping people,” Jerry Jr. said Sr. co-founded C-B of continuing with the business. “I like Movers in 1978, little did he know dealing with customers and trying to the family business provide a good service for them.” Jerry Sr. was working at the former would last more than 40 years with three generations of Durkee Manufacturing in Pine River when the opportunity to change careers Campbells working there. Today, Campbell and his wife, Doris, arose. Doris’s sister had bought a cabin are retired, though he still does errands that needed to be moved from Crow Wing for the company that relocates buildings State Park. “Dad pretty much did what he could do and lifts structures for new foundations to help her,” Jerry Jr. said. “He borrowed and basements. Their oldest son, Jerry Campbell Jr., and his wife, Linda, own some jacks from a guy, loaded it on a the family business based off County trailer and moved it.” That “guy” asked Jerry Sr. to buy his Road 1 west of Pequot Lakes. Their son, Waylon, and nephew, Dustin - the third business. After some consideration, he generation of Campbells - also work for did just that, saying he always wanted to be his own boss. He partnered with Glen C-B Movers. “Dad pretty much always had it in Bjoraker, and thus C-B Movers got its mind - it was Dad’s dream for us to take name using the first letters of both men’s it over and run it,” Campbell Jr. said of last names. himself and his brothers. The three brothers – Jerry Jr., Mike and Basil – all worked for their dad. In 1990, C-B MOVERS: Page 8
W
117 Years www.fnbnorth.com
99 Years
www.fnbnorth.com Since 1902
54 Years
Since 1902
HWY. 371 & CR 16 Jenkins, MN
800-432-3777
Baxter~Pequot Baxter~Pequot Lakes~Crosslake Lakes~Crosslake Backus~Hackensack~Longville Backus~Hackensack~Longville Remer~Walker~Akeley Remer~Walker~Akeley
41 Years
46 Years
47 Years
9252 Breezy Point Dr. Breezy Point, MN 56472
218-568-8353
www.breezypointresort.com
www.apinerestaurant.com
37 Years
37 Years
41 Years
001812923r1
Submitted Photos
MAIN: C-B Movers includes current co-owners Jerry Campbell Jr. (left) and his wife, Linda (right); co-founder Jerry Campbell Sr. and Waylon Campbell, son of Jerry Jr. and Linda. TOP: Jerry Campbell Sr. stands next to a house and the first truck he used to move buildings in the early 1980s. BOTTOM: C-B Movers moved this home from Verndale Custom Builders in mid-January 2019.
CROW WING AUTO BODY & TOWING
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www.merrittjewelers.com
21 Years
18 Years
PEQUOTLAKESSANITATION.COM
ISO 9001 Registered
28 Years
24 Years
13 Years
9 Years
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218-568-8812
218-568-5025 www.nobleescrow.com
8 Years
rk
Chris & Brenda Greer
218-568-8448
30581 Patriot Avenue d
n
www.lonesomecottage.com info@lonesomecottage.com
Owners/Contact:
o
29309 Patriot Ave. Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
nema
La
Next to the DQ in Pequot Lakes 218-568-8223
31094 Government Drive, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
4657 Engen Road, Pequot Lakes
218-568-5242
218-568-4343
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Government Drive, Pequot Lakes (218) 568-8771 www.saloncouturemn.com
Christopher Clasen, CPA Aaron Stegner, CPA Susan Schiessl, CPA Stephanie Murray, CPA Jane Erickson, CPA
office@lakesareacpas.com www.lakesareacpas.com Tax Preparation 30954 Government Drive • Pequot Lakes 24314 Smiley Road, Suite B • Nisswa
Su
r veyin
g,
30206 Rasmussen Road, Suite #1 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-568-4940
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218•568•8069 www.pequottool.com
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23 Years
pequotlakesphysicaltherapy.com
13833 riverwOOD Lane #3 CrOssLake, mn 692-4700
29313 Patriot Ave Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
Our Mission: To exceed our customer expectations by utilizing manufacturing technology & investing in a well-trained & motivated workforce.
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29 Years
Precision Machining • Fabrication • Assembly
Call us for a free month of service.
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218-568-4695
218-568-8241
31 Years
30960 GOvernment Drive 568-5555
218-568-5666
Jerry Campbell
LICENSED AND INSURED
Dr. Todd M. Wiedell OptOmetrist
31067 Front Street Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
HOUSE & BUILDING MOVERS
c.
218-829-2891
www.bldr.com
34 Years
35 Years
218-568-4040
401 S. 8th Street, Brainerd
In
At the intersection of Cty Rd. 39 & 16 in Ideal Corners (218) 543-4117
4326 E. Sibley Street, Pequot Lakes
St
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(218) 568-8521
www.pineandlakes.com
~FAMOUS WHIMPIE BURGERS~
Brainerd Lakes Market
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4285 W Lake St, Pequot Lakes, MN
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•Hand-Pattied Burgers •Homemade Pizza •Tender, “Meat-Fall-Off-The-Bone” Ribs •Friday All You Can Eat Fish •Saturday All You Can Eat Chicken
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...and our business is still picking up!
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-568-5001 pequotlakessupervalu.com
Business Traditions
2 Thursday, January 31, 2019 www.brainerddispatch.com
Pine River bowling lanes are a product of the community
81 Years
Est.
1914
73 Years
73 Years
bowl there, eat there and play in the new game room. In spite of immediate success, at end of their lease the women decided to move on. “It was so much work,” Johnson said. “Seven days a week, nine months of the year. We just chose not to continue. It’s very labor intensive.” That’s when Walters came in. Walters bought the operable bowling alley with an engaged customer base, complete with Ruigh’s original pizza recipes. Walters and the Pine River Community Bowl continued as an important attraction to Pine River, the nearest lanes for 32 miles that attracted customers into Pine River once again. “At the time and even still, it is probably the major form of recreation not only for Pine River but there are a lot of bowlers from Longville, Hackensack, Crosslake and Emily that came here and
BOWLING: Page 3 101 Years
104 Years
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
MAIN: Since 1959 the bowling alley in Pine River has risen from its own ashes, grown two lanes, gone through three names and added electronic scoring, but community support got it to where it is today. ABOVE: Tami and Sandi Zoldey, along with Bill Zoldey, became owners of the Community Bowl and Pizzeria in Pine River in early 2017.
95 Years
87 Years 218-963-2292
24238 SMILEY ROAD
(218) 963-2265 www.SchaefersFoods.com Schaefer’s Corner Hwy 371, Nisswa Open Daily 7am-10pm
Serving The Brainerd Lakes Area
218-828-1268
r3'71] NISSWA, MN
BOATS • PONTOONS • DOCKS & LIFTS SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE
800-346-2292
Nisswa, MN
Fax: (218) 963-4402 sales@nisswamarine.com www.nisswamarine.com
69 Years
60 Years
55 Years
25532 Murray Rd. Nisswa, MN 56468
5064 County Road 13 – Schaefer’s Corner PO Box 29, Nisswa, MN 56468
001821499r1
n the history of Pine River, many buildings have burned down, some of them businesses. But not even the popular Marlow Theater was rebuilt by other business owners and community members. The same cannot be said of Pine River Lanes, now Community Bowl & Pizzeria on Barclay Avenue. Before July 1992, Pine River Lanes had been in constant operation since 1959, when Martin Ruigh, his father and an extended crew built the six lanes next door to Ruigh’s house on Barclay Avenue. Ruigh ran it with his wife, Joan, until she died in 1991. The business was an important recreation center for Pine River. In addition to bowling, Ruigh’s pizza and food was well loved locally. “It brought people to town,” said Pat Johnson, a former bowling alley manager. “They would go to the grocery store on the way to the bowling alley. They might go to the liquor store on the way home from the bowling alley. The collateral impact, I think, was the reason they wanted it.” The bowling alley was so important, in fact, that the community apparently could not do without it. In July 1992, a fire destroyed the structure in what then-Fire Chief Jimmy Dale Blanchard said was the worst fire he had ever fought. The fire crew fought the blaze for hours knowing the building and Ruigh’s house next door were complete losses, but wind buffeted the flames and pushed them east along with abundant black smoke toward a home next door and the church on the corner. For a while it seemed like efforts to save those buildings were for naught, and fire crews began to remove furniture from the church in anticipation of the fire spreading. “Everyone was so concerned about Martin,” Johnson said. “He was not in there but he lost his dog and he was emotionally distraught over that. I also remember the Pine River Fire Department taking furniture out of the Pine River United Methodist Church. That’s the oldest
church in town. They were taking stuff out because they were not sure they could contain that fire.” In the end fire crews saved both the home next door and the church, but the bowling lanes and Ruigh’s home were destroyed. A l m o s t immediately, business owners and community members gathered together to form an investment group that funded the $430,000 cost to rebuild the bowling alley with eight lanes. In September 1992, the group was considering a location near the Pine River Supper Club. Eventually Ruigh donated his property to the group to have the alley built in the same location. Members of the group were officially selected in included Mike Griep, Guy Wannebo, Doug Zaske, Pine September 1993. “My friend Sue Davis River Chamber Director and I had been on the same John Wetrosky, Ruigh and bowling league at Pine many others. Nobody was guaranteed a return on River Lanes,” Johnson said. “We always loved the their investments. It was a gamble, but it paid sport and when it burned off. The alley was named down we were already Pine River Community looking for a business to Bowl to commemorate the go into.” Before the fire, Johnson community effort to bring and Davis already had a the alleys back. “We sold stock and business plan and were made no promises on in contact with local development returns and hoped to get economic everybody’s money with a groups, but the new little interest,” Wetrosky bowling alley offered them said. “As it turned out, another avenue, and they we did that and it was took it. Ruigh was involved from debt free the day the door the very start. Johnson opened. That’s a pretty rare thing. We had people said at the time Ruigh who donated or invested and others in town were that basically didn’t care if likely somewhat wary of they got their money back. a business run by two They just wanted to see it women. Johnson said Davis likely surprised in Pine River.” “It was something to Ruigh because she was have in Pine River that good at maintaining the pinsetters. brings the same people in mechanical he always once a week for 30 weeks,” However, said former owner Tom watched them like a hawk Walters. “I remember when they made pizzas other business owners said with his recipes. “Martin was there every they saw a downturn when the alley was gone. There single day,” Johnson said. are a lot of small towns “I can still hear him say, need the cheese that would love to have ‘No, you . Minn wa, to the edge.’” Niss a bowling center and we closer SuPaCo operated the are fortunate they got this alleys for just one year. running again.” The fixtures, equipment Johnson said the business and furniture were bought boomed when the doors used from an alley that reopened. “We had leagues closed in Avon. Before it opened, locals Sue booming,” Johnson said. Davis and Johnson came “We had d 1914leagues every heof s the week except forward to operate the night i l ab bowling alley under theE stSaturday.” Customers flocked to name SuPaCo, and they
001821830r1
I
By Travis Grimler Echo Journal Staff Writer
80 Years of Memories!
54 Years
Hwy. 371, Nisswa
800-322-3525 | info@nisswadock.com
www.NISSWADOCK.com
001821518r1
barharborsupperclub.com
001825485r1
(218) 963.2568
218-963-9946
25807 Main St., Nisswa www.nisswalegion.com
40 Years
53 Years
218-963-0085
001818260r1
License #A-01124-001 — Post 627 —
The Get-Together Place PUBLIC WELCOME North End of Gull Lake on CR 77
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39 Years
Website: lccnisswa.org Email: lcc@lccnisswa.org Phone: 218-963-2564
23590 Smiley Rd., Nisswa
218-963-7333
33 Years
37 Years
The Company for Women
Sandy Strom-Gieseke Independent Sales Representative
800-247-6573
www.vikinglabel.com
5446 LAKERS LANE DOWNTOWN NISSWA 218-963-4361
32 Years
13 Years
Nisswa, MN
PO Box 1382 Lake Hubert, MN 56459
218-838-7006
stromgieseke@gmail.com
001821155r1
blackridgebank.com
001821142r1
218-963-2575
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Nisswa
www.yourAVON.com/sstrom
Member FDIC
11 Years
11 Years
218-963-7470
22386 State Hwy 371 S “Better Boards, Better Service” 001821120r1
2 Years
9 1/2 Years
Brainerd Lakes Area Outdoor Youth Expo
Boating Season:
001823454r1
5445 City Hall Street Nisswa (across from City Hall)
@ Love Lake
Gull-Love Lake Marina: 19571 Love Lake Rd, Brainerd
Snowmobiling Season:
4758 County Rd. 77, Nisswa - Right on the trail system!
& SPA 24463 Hazelwood Drive, Nisswa, MN
Store: 218-961-PETS Spa: 218-961-7389
218-232-1960 & 218-820-9215
Escorted Small Group Travel Tours
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963-7908
Join us for the 11th Annual Youth Expo June 8, 2019 Like us on Facebook 001824440r1
218-963-7700
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Boats • Jet Skis • Pontoons Snowmobiles Fish Houses
24719 HAZELWOOD DR. NISSWA, MN 218-961-0095
Claudia Allene Your Personal Travel Guide
Phone 218-513-8922 www.ClaudiaAroundTheWorld.com
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Business Traditions
Pine River Journal File Photos
TOP: A private investment group formed of local business owners and community members gathered approximately $430,000 to rebuild the Pine River Community Bowl on the site of the former Pine River Lanes.
used it as a recreation site for winter,” said Wetrosky. From 1994-2017, Walters was the face of the bowling alley. In that time, some things changed. Primarily, score keeping changed from manual to electronic in 2000, which drew in casual bowlers who were intimidated by score keeping. “People would come in and if they didn’t know how to score I didn’t mind showing them, but they didn’t want to bother you,” Walters said. “They stayed and played one game. When we got the automatic scoring they just bowled and had fun and stayed a lot longer. It worked better for tournaments and whatnot.” The alley continued to be Pine River’s primary recreation outlet in the winter, but Walters eventually decided it was time to move on. Bowling alley ownership was a busy lifestyle. They sold to Bill and Sandi Zoldey and their daughter, Tami, in February 2017. “I still miss the people,” Walters said. “I still bowl on Monday evenings because I didn’t want to lose touch with everyone. I’ve been with them 20 years.” “I told him (Bill), ‘I want it,’” Sandi said of the bowling alley in a 2017 story in the Echo Journal. The Zoldey family took over and Travis Grimler may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis. grimler@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and immediately formed plans for the space, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Travis. changing the name to Community Bowl and Pizzeria. They kept the same old pizza recipes from Ruigh (who died in 2014) and sought to expand the dining clientele. They 320-632-5441 removed some arcade www.chistgabriels.com games from the game — Facilities — room and moved lockers • St. Gabriel’s Hospital • Family Medical Center 218-546-5029 there, using the former • Little Falls Orthopedics www.cicourierinc.com locker space to expand • Alverna Apartments • CHI Health at Home the dining area. They also 001825014r1
BOTTOM: The bowling alley was outfitted using lanes, seats, pinsetters and kitchen equipment purchased from a bowling alley in Avon that was going out of business.
001813029r1
001824880r1
QUALITY BY LANE MARSHFIELD
45 Years
49 Years
www.cummingsjanzen.com www.midwestauctions.com/janzen www.janzenauctions.com
001823348r1
CLOW STAMPING COMPANY
Bonded & Insured
36 Years
1-800-692-2177
36 Years
36685 County Road 66 CROSSLAKE (218) 692-3752
001821303r1
218-692-2177
Sales & Service, LLC 001812998r1
001821839r1
23103 County Rd. 3 Merrifield, MN Phone (218) 765-3111 Fax (218) 765-3904
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
“We Serve”
34 Years
Established 1976
27 Years PUTNAM
Ideal SharpenIng
Hwy 371
3874 16th Street SW Backus, MN 56435
18 Years Your area Pharmacist since 2001
- Sanding & Finishing of New and Existing Hardwood Floors - Residential and Commercial
Adam Putnam 218-330-7851 Larry Putnam 218-746-3828
001813068r1
218-587-2250
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Motley, MN Stop in or apply from home
21 Years
-Installation of New Hardwood Flooring
Chris Wohlers
19 Years
• Pequot Lakes • Aitkin
www.MnTaxPros.com
22 Years
• Free Estimates • 36 Years of Experience
Current Owner of 11 Years
218-587-2900
33 Years
DOWNTOWN PINE RIVER
(218) 587-3373
Serving Central and Northern Minnesota
MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-5
18 Years
14 Years
On 371 & the Paul Bunyan Trail a mile south of the light in Pine River
Sunday Worship
10:45am with Children’s Church and Nursery 13919 County Road 36, Crosslake, MN 56442
www.crosslakechristian.com
218-587-2564
Pastor Gary Espeseth • Youth Pastor Austin Krieger
14 Years
14 Years
www.bearpausetheater.com
218-587-2558 1389 St 84 SW Pine River, MN
5 Years
803 4th Street Ironton, MN
BAKERY
218-545-5715
215 BARCLAY AVE PINE RIVER
Will meet or beat any reasonable offer! Call me today for your free estimate
Jeremy Woodwick
218-821-1800
Phone (218) 310-0735 www.The AdjusterGroup.com
7 Months
PINE RIVER
“THE LOCAL GUY”
Terry & Denny Aleckson
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Movie Hotline
218-675-5373
A
10 Years
JEREMY’S SEAMLESS GUTTERS LLC
DOUBLE AUTOMOTIVE
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Hackensack, MN
12 Years
www.brainerdroofing.com
218.270.0009
Professional Insurance Claim Representation
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13 Years
218.692.4DOG
Public Adjusting Services
Roofing Specialist
320-676-3409 • millelacsdriving@gmail.com
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13 Years
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Crosslake Town Square • 218-692-2502
34420 County Road 3 · Crosslake NorthlandPetLodge.com stay@northlandpetlodge.com
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Registered Pharmacist
001823343r1
Steve Kappes
218-829-8727 www.wastepartnersinc.com
Questions: 218-352-6600
21 Years
Lic. # BC586859 Residential / Commercial Trash and Recycling Collection
www.tridentseafoods.com
HARDWOOD FLOORS, Inc.
Complete Sharpening Service
Pine River, MN
• Crosslake • Baxter
001823331r1
Barnum’s Auto Parts
jandbwesternstore.com
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28 Years
28 Years
218-829-8144
(218) 692-3772
www.SchruppExcavating.com
800-952-3766
greatrivereyeclinic.com
“Four Offices To Serve You!”
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218-587-4038
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www.emilygreens.com
1860 Scearcyville Dr SW Pillager, MN 56473
Baxter & Crosby
833-668-2977
Established 1985
Crosslake, MN
3003 36th St. S.W., Pine River
www.lfhs.sfhs.org 320.632.9211 001825701r1
Your Complete Fence Contractor
34 Years
DESIGNED, BUILT & INSTALLED
RAYMOND SCHRUPP
(218) 763-2169 emilygreens@tds.net
STATE CERTIFIED–BONDED–INSURED
1200 NE 1st Ave, Little Falls, MN
43 Years
44 Years
WURDEMAN CABINET CO.
1mi. west of Emily on Co Rd 1
001813209r1
www.crosslakecatholic.com
1-800-755-3118 218-534-3118 www.obergfence.com
HIGH GRADE WOOD PRODUCTS
Now hiring! visit us at www.jobswithus.org
35208 Co Rd 37, Crosslake, MN 218-692-3731
Meetings held 2nd Tuesday of Each Month 7:00 pm at the Birchwood Char House & Bar
36 Years
A Senior Living Community with Spirit & Compassion
Rev. Blake Rozier, Pastor
44 Years HACKENSACK LIONS CLUB
Shopping Us Last Since 1975
55 Years
Immaculate Heart Church
www.deerwoodcommerce.org
44 Years
Serving the lakes area since 1974.
Metal Stamping • Fabrication • Weldments & Assemblies
Deerwood Gun Show March 2-3 22 Years Deerwood Summerfest August 9-10 32 Years
14 1st street NW Aitkin, MN 56431
MAYTAG • CROSLEY
GARDINER’S FURNITURE
Upcoming Events:
218-692-2777
64 Years
Deerwood Civic & Commerce
218-927-4488 or 218-851-0879
FOR ALL YOUR HARDWARE NEEDS
GARDINER’S APPLIANCE
218.675.9191
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Jeremy Janzen Auctioneer/Broker Janzen Auctioneers / Cummings Janzen Realty
GARDINER’S HARDWARE HANK
888-870-4464
Toll Free: 800-266-6037
PO Box 70 Crosslake, MN 56442 800-992-8220
001821480r1
Club open Tuesday thru Sunday
www.simonson-lumber.com
Your hometown choice providing local customer service and support since 1925
001813984r1
JANZEN AUCTIONEERS
Downtown Pine River
pineriverstatebank.com
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218-587-2585
3 Businesses In One Convenient Location
Pine River • Breezy Point • Emily Pillager • Nowthen
37568 County Road 66, Crosslake Phone: 218-692-3101
001823979r1
“Where everyone meets to have a good time”
www.legionpost202.com Downtown Hackensack
83 Years
Gardiner’s
AMERICAN LEGION POST #202
Five Locations To Serve You
3855 Independence Rd, Baxter Phone: 218-829-5798
70 Years
83 Years
94 Years
001821248r1
86 Years
101 Years
106 Years
001824024r1
108 Years
001823398r1
128 Years
MIDDLE: A fire in July 1992 destroyed the original Pine River Lanes, but community members worked to bring it back.
001824015r1
From Page 2
paid for a liquor license. Bill said some longtime customers were distant at first, but they warmed up. “We heard stuff. People said since Tom wasn’t running it they weren’t coming back. Then we saw them in a couple months,” Bill said. The Zoldeys worked to make the alley more popular during the summer, a season when bowling alleys are typically less active. Expanding the dining area was part of that ploy, but so was renewed promotion and advertising. Tami, for example, is active on social media, drawing in crowds all year long with specials, events and expanded leagues. As a result, Bill and Sandi said 2018 finished strong, and 2019 started just as strong. Dining was at least part of that. “We kind of focused a lot more on food,” Bill said. “Going over our books, a little over half of our sales is in food, which is nice because it kind of helps cover the summer months while bowling is down. We also expanded our menu.” Growing on their successes, the Zoldeys plan to expand their menu. They optimally would like to add a selection of burgers. Of course, Martin Ruigh’s pizzas will remain a major attraction that connects the alley to its roots as a business the Pine River community just couldn’t do without.
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BOWLING
Thursday, January 31, 2019 3
001824707r1
www.brainerddispatch.com
218-587-2545
John & Julie Sigafus Welcome You. VOTED BEST OF BRAINERD LAKES 2018
Carrie Espeseth
Mycolorstreet.com/CarrieShares Real Nail Polish Strips That Apply Easily & Last! 001822666r1
Business Traditions
4 Thursday, January 31, 2019 www.brainerddispatch.com
Risk management is good for Brainerd business Insurance company has storied past, looks to the future
T
By Frank Lee Brainerd Dispatch Staff Writer
he clients of Weizenegger-Engel Insurance hope they never have to file a claim with the longtime Brainerd-based company, but they will be glad if they do. Weizenegger-Engel Insurance has served the insurance needs of more than 1,500 businesses and families in the state for close to a century by managing risks. “What I would emphasize is we’re probably 90 percent business insurance is what we do. We’re handling commercial business enterprises for insurance,” said Craig Miller, agency principal. Weizenegger-Engel Insurance has licensed agents in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont and New Hampshire. “We have gotten farther out in our geography of where we do business. We have clients on the Iron Range, down in the Twin Cities, out in far western Minnesota, so we have expanded our service area,” Miller said. The company insures, for example, businesses in these industries or groups: auto sales and service, building materials, contractors, equipment dealers, funeral directors, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing, medical, professional, retail, resorts, tire dealers and retreaders. “In 2008, we saw a lot of our contractors go out of business, so there was a big slump for several years … but we pretty much weathered through it,” said Robyn Rudek, senior agency marketer. Miller said, “We were still very aggressive with our marketing - getting out there and doing business with new businesses to replace what we were losing. And we Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch have diversified over the past 15 years. We only insured Weizenegger-Engel Insurance in Brainerd has served the insurance needs of more than 1,500 businesses and one school district 15 years ago.”
families in the state for close to a century.
148 Years
INSURANCE: Page 5
147 Years
146 Years
137 Years
135 Years
202 8th Ave. N.E. Brainerd
2019 Fair Dates: July 30 - August 3 2000 13TH STREET S.E., BRAINERD, MN 56401
www.isd181.org (218) 454-6900
001821486r1
218-822-4040
001823685r1
9th and Juniper
506 James Street Brainerd, MN
130 Years
132 Years
829-4705
315 North 6th Street, Brainerd 218-829-4116 www.parkunitedmethodist.org Sunday Worship, 9:00 a.m.
www.brainerddispatch.com 001812975r1
829-4755
Continuous Service Since 1882
126 Years
129 years years 126
Brainerd Elks Lodge #615
110 Years
The Parker Building Downtown Brainerd
218-829-2344
96 Years
84 Years
110 Years1/5/16
Logo 1.6875x2 126 Years.indd 1
10:00 AM
“Community involvement — people helping people”
www.brainerdelks.org 001823478r1
102 Years
Eagles
Serving Brainerd Lakes Area Communities, Youth and Veterans
218-829-4216
215 South 9th St. • (218)829-2643 BrainerdElks.org • email info@brainerdelks.org
124 Front Street, Brainerd
102 Years
97 Years
001813006r1
001813023r1
110 Years
8027 Highland Scenic Rd Baxter MN 56425 218-829-8726
Brainerd Aerie #287
001822916r1
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Brainerd • 829-8781 Baxter • 828-5191 Aitkin • 927-3794 Member FDIC
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1420 South 6th Street Brainerd MN (218) 829-5147 www.trinitybrainerd.org
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602 Oak St., Brainerd, MN 218-829-4767 brainerdlakesymca.org
001821460r1
BRAINERD FAMILY YMCA
crowwingcountyfair.com
116 Years
119 Years
Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA
218-829-6680
001821405r1
St. Francis Catholic Church
001821200r1
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10424 Squaw Point Road Brainerd
218-829-3918 www.erniesongull.com
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Lighting the lives of 37,000 members Since 1937
SHIPMAN 1711 Southeast 13 St. Brainerd, MN 56401
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804 Laurel Street Brainerd, MN
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Commercial printing, fulfillment,mailing, and more.
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Your Area Volkswagen Dealer Since 1959
New owners as of July 2017!
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516 C St NE, Brainerd, MN 001822918r1
22 WASHINGTON ST. BRAINERD, MN
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506 Laurel St., Brainerd
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Since 1940 830 Brook Street • Brainerd, MN
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309 NW 3rd Street
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S.T. Monda, O.D. T.J. Swanson, O.D. J.J. Hanske, O.D. Dr. A.M. Archibald-Swanson
Business Traditions
www.brainerddispatch.com
INSURANCE From Page 4
Rudek said the company now insures “a number of school districts … and a number of municipalities and a number of nonprofits.” Miller added, “And most of the major manufacturing in the community. … We’ve had people that have done business with us for over 50 years.” Miller is one of 10 employees of Weizenegger-Engel Insurance, which is affiliated with Primary Source Insurance, a nationwide organization based in Owatonna. “Insurance is very dependent upon and the pricing of it, long term - handling your claims and minimizing your claims, so we’re very involved with our clients to help them develop strategies, best practices, to minimize claims,” Miller said. “Our core is going to continue to be business insurance, but what we want to do is also do the group health for the business owner, so we want to be that onestop shop to handle their needs, so they’ve got one agent to talk to, one agency to talk to, to solve their problems.” Rudek has worked at Weizenegger-Engel Insurance for more than four decades and is not the only employee at the company with that kind of longevity. Renae Vogt, who retired about a year ago, also worked for the company for more than four decades.
company’s origins. “I originally started with Opsahl Insurance - Butch Opsahl, he was in downtown Brainerd - and his father started it in 1921, I think it was.” She said she thought that it was in 1981, after Butch Opsahl’s death, that the company was purchased by the Graham Weizenegger Insurance Agency. “Steve Engel and Bob Weizenegger brought our agency together, and we operated separately from the Weizenegger office for a few years and then we all merged,” Rudek said. Weizenegger-Engel Insurance is owned by Federated Insurance Companies of Owatonna. “That’s who Steve Engel sold out to 15 years ago,” Miller said. Other notable changes that affected Weizenegger-Engel Insurance include how computers became standard office equipment. Rudek said when she started at the company, everything was done by
Thursday, January 31, 2019 5
paper. “We’re totally internet based with our software and records retention, so all client policies, all client service management,” Miller said. “We’ve got records of phone calls, we’ve got records of conversations, emails, all catalogued when we used to have walls of file cabinets in this building.”
Growing cyber-liability and computer hacking Rudek said another change is employment practices liability has grown a lot over the years. “It just seems like something keeps getting added every couple of years, like now the hot item is cyber-liability with all the computer hacking,” Rudek said. Miller added, “Or employees losing a computer - obviously consumer information, credit card information being
Company origins
obtained. … Or you can get duped into wiring money into an account, and businesses - it’s happening in our neighborhood quite frequently … being approached to do it.” Weizenegger-Engel Insurance provides its clients with annual review for their safety and risk management practices, financial and business succession planning, insurance coverage and options, and insurance renewal, according to its website. “I also see us adding additional companies that we represent,” Miller said of Weizenegger-Engel Insurance, which represents an estimated 18 different insurance companies, too. “Every insurance company has their specialty of what they want to do, so over the past four years, we’ve added two new companies, and over the next two years, I’d like to add another company, so that we can write more diverse types of businesses out there.” And as for the future of Weizenegger-Engel Insurance? Miller said he expects their clients will come from even farther areas in the internet age. “But it still comes down to two real key areas: one, businesses are more complex, and it takes some expertise, and, two, that’s where our people come into play,” Miller said of his coworkers’ strong work ethic and professionalism that have stood the test of time. “Anybody can sell insurance. What it comes down to is how well do you understand the policies and the coverage needs of the client.” Frank Lee may be reached at 218-8555863 or frank.lee@brainerddispatch. com. Follow him on Twitter at www. twitter.com/DispatchFL.
50 Years
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Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary!
Precision ProPeller Works
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14250 Conservation Drive Brainerd, MN 56401
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302 South Sixth Street P.O. Box 411 Brainerd, MN 56401 218-829-1451 (main) www.brainerdlaw.com
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Engineering | Architecture Surveying | Environmental
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Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch “We were kind of a melding of two business- Joni Ebert (left, front row), Seante Sibbert, Robyn Rudek and Jill Janzen, and Jayme Steele (left, back row), Jake es,” Rudek said of the Huser and Craig Miller smile for a group photo in the conference room of Weizenegger-Engel Insurance in Brainerd.
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Medical Supply Company.”
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40 Years
206 W. Washington St.,Brainerd
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Serving Crow Wing, Lower part of Cass and Wadena Counties
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Scott Parsons Agency
829-2881 18441 State Hwy 371 Brainerd
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33 Years
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A Community Supporter and Locally Owned Company
417 South 5th Street Brainerd, MN 56401
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416 S. 7th St. Brainerd
36 Years
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Business Traditions
6 Thursday, January 31, 2019 www.brainerddispatch.com
Culligan Man fades to background as company markets to millennials By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch Staff Writer
and services. “They want it done; they he days of “Hey, Culligan Man” are coming to a close, but the business itself want it done right,” she is still booming. said. “They’re For younger generations who might not going to do their research before, and they want understand that reference, you’re not alone. The 1960s-70s advertising slogan likely strikes it to be as simple as possible, and they also want the service aspect. They’re busy, so they want a chord with older folks, but Culligan Water, it to be something that is all taken care of for established in 1936, is doing away with the iconic them.” phrase in efforts of appealing to millennials and With the new goal of targeting life quenchers an emerging group of consumers identified as and millennials, marketing strategies are “life quenchers.” shifting at the water treatment company. One “The life quenchers are not necessarily in a new initiative is simply adding the word “water” particular age demographic, but they are people to the Culligan name. that typically own their home, want a healthy “Doesn’t that just make sense?” Reponen said, lifestyle,” LoAnn Reponen, general manager noting Culligan International spearheaded the at Culligan Water Conditioning in Baxter, said, effort in 2016 after realizing many millennialexplaining this group of consumers is often aged consumers were not familiar with Culligan particular about how they receive their goods at all. “That was the biggest ‘ah ha’ moment.”
31 Years
1-800-458-0895 17274 State Hwy 371, Brainerd www.preferredhearingaidcenter.com prefer2hear@gmail.com
7790 Hastings Road Baxter, MN 56425 (218) 828-0110 www.avantech.com
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29 Years
29 Years
001821376r1
29 Years
Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch
Culligan Water’s blue and white building on Industrial Park Road in Baxter houses offices and a tidy multiple vehicle bay.
CULLIGAN : Page 7
31 Years
30 Years
31 Years 001821116r1
Crisis Line And referrAL serviCe
Contact us Today For All Your Hearing Aid Needs
Though the rebranding is still in the early stages, Reponen said indicators look positive. “I think it’s a journey, and it will take consistency and just to keep putting the same message out there, but I do think it’s going to resonate with the younger folks,” she said. Along with the rebranding came new advertising campaigns that - unfortunately for some consumers - no longer focus on the famed Culligan Man. “I think he’s introduced humorously here or there,” she said, “but now it’s the little cute girl and guy.”
BRAINERD lptv.org
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32 Years
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218-828-4728 800-450-7669
722 South 6th St. Brainerd, MN 56401
21 Years
22 Years
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13540 Ironwood drIve BraInerd, Mn 56401
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18 Years
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14 Years
14 Years
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Serving Crow Wing, Aitkin, Morrison, Southern Cass & Todd Counties 001812992r1
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Brainerd Baxter’s Youth Defined Space
An LCMC Congregation …Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ
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201 S. 6th Street Historic Downtown Brainerd
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13377 State Hwy. 25 Brainerd, MN 56401
Business Traditions
71 Years
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97 Years
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YOUR HOMETOWN DEALER SINCE
“We Are Where You Need Us!”
1922
67 Years
65 Years
Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch
Jessi Johnson, left, and Kaitlyn Messerschmidt staff the front desks in the Culligan Water offices in Baxter. The business has been in the lakes area for about 65 years evolving with the times and sporting a fresh ad campaign to reach “life quenchers.”
Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch
A Culligan Water crew sets out from the Baxter offices. they need,” she said. “And continuous improvement is one of our values, so we look toward that too.” But perhaps the best - and maybe even most important - part of her job at Culligan Water and Conditioning? “Just basically making
sure everybody is enjoying and loving their job,” she said with a smile. “And I have wonderful people that I get to do it with every day.”
78 Years
77 Years
Theresa Bourke may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch. com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa.
better water. pure and simple.
8240 Industrial Park Rd. Baxter, MN
829-5137
63 Years
63 Years
Serving the entire Brainerd Lakes Area
Safely Serving Our Community for 71 years. www.reichertbus.com
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62 Years
Culligan Cares,” she added. “And that gives us in the dealership an opportunity to raise money for the community.” For the 13 employees at Culligan’s Baxter location, that activism comes in the form of silent auctions and other events throughout the year to raise money for local nonprofits like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Camp Confidence. Any money the employees raise for charity will be matched by the owner. Packard will also donate $25 for every hour an employee spends volunteering for a nonprofit. “It’s wonderful,” Reponen said. “Every year I feel the employees are getting more and more engaged with it and we have fun.” Culligan owner Packard also encourages managers and leaders at each location to be involved with area organizations like the chamber of commerce or rotary club so they can remain active community members. Along with supporting the community through involvement, as general manager at Culligan in Baxter, Reponen works to support the rest of the staff as well. She described her job as monitoring the business’s financial status and making sure other staff members have the resources they need to accomplish their duties. “A big part of my role is with the sales staff, making sure they have the tools and the coaching
001818569r1
829-2823
Reponen moved from the Twin Cities to the lakes area to become the general manager at Culligan’s new Baxter location. “It was interesting in 1992 because a woman manager was not very common … in our industry,” she said. “That’s part of, I think, the fun part of my personal journey, coming into a very male-oriented business and proving that a woman can do it if you have the right people.” Reponen came shortly after Culligan moved from its location on Washington Street in Brainerd to Industrial Park Road in Baxter in 1991. “At that time it was a great location because it was right next to the railway,” Reponen said of the previous Brainerd location, “and the salt would come in by railcar.” Now having been wellestablished in Baxter for more than two decades, Culligan Water Conditioning works not only to supply quality water services to the lakes area but to be an integral part of the community itself as well. “It’s kind of hard sometimes with some of the bigger businesses not to be - I hate to say cookie cutter - but not have the personal touch,” Reponen said, explaining the company’s owner encourages each of its 33 U.S. branches to be as involved in its local community as possible. “Something that he has initiated in the last four years is what we call
001818565r1
NAPA Baxter
14751 Edgewood Dr. Baxter
Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch
Culligan Water’s work team gathers in the vehicle bay at the company’s Baxter facility.
001823957r1
73 Years
From Page 6
Thursday, January 31, 2019 7
001824076r1
That guy, she mentioned featured in a new ad campaign, might be recognizable to fans of the popular 1987 movie “The Princess Bride.” A new Culligan commercial features actor Cary Elwes and his famous “as you wish” line. The ad, which first aired during the Golden Globe Awards in January, features a young girl who asks Elwes - her onscreen dad - for pasta, more bubbles for her bath and super clean ice cubes with her lemonade. “The Princess Bride” actor responds to every request with, “as you wish.” The last scene then shows the actor raving to his neighbor about how his Culligan water helps with cooking great food and getting clothes soft and clean, while still tasting fantastic too. Another relatively new Culligan commercial features family members doing several household activities, like cooking, showering and giving water to their pet dog, ultimately finishing with the tagline “your whole home drinks.” The idea with these new ad campaigns, Reponen said, is to market Culligan as a company that does it all for those millennials and life quenchers who want all of their services taken care of at once. “We offer programs, the Culligan Advantage Program, where we do everything for them,” Reponen said. “They don’t have to put their own salt in, they don’t have to change their own filter. … They don’t have to think about it.” With Baxter’s Culligan branch offering residential and commercial water treatment, bottled water dispensers and coolers, in-home water testing, emergency repair and maintenance, online salt and bottled water ordering, and home and office water delivery, consumers can certainly leave most if not all - up to their proverbial Culligan man and his team. Three truck drivers hit the roads each day for deliveries, sometimes driving routes up to 200 miles and traveling as far as Hackensack, Remer and McGregor. Routes often expand in the summer, as the lakes area population increases exponentially, but the business accomplishes its work with its regular amount of employees. “We just work harder, longer, faster, smarter,” Reponen said, noting her branch sometimes has the
“wonderful” challenge of trucks that aren’t able to hold all the product needed for some delivery routes. “That’s where having a team that works together is definitely an asset because everybody pitches in to figure it out,” she said. Having been in the area for about 65 years, the Baxter Culligan branch deals heavily in filter replacements, Reponen said, rather than new water softeners, though that service is still available. “And then, of course, our drinking water and bottled water,” she added. “That’s really the exciting part of our business now because the awareness of the drinking water has heightened, and we feel it’s our obligation to educate people so they know what is potentially in their water and then how to treat it.” Culligan partners with A.W. Research Laboratories for testing purposes, as Culligan can test for indicators of contaminants but doesn’t have a lab of its own identify harmful elements that may be in water. “Because what we’re talking about is so essential to life,” Reponen said, “people need to not only have good working water but good drinking water.” Just like clean water is essential to everyday life, technology is becoming essential to Culligan’s success, especially when it comes to allowing customers to buy goods and services online. “It’s the way people want to shop now,” Reponen said. “We had to figure out a way to offer the same services and resources and stuff that we do but do it online. So we had to try to get those two to come together, where we still go into people’s homes and do onsite water analysis with them.” Adapting to technological advances isn’t the only change Reponen has seen during her roughly 35-year career with Culligan though. While working at a branch in the Twin Cities, she remembers the initial meeting that kicked off Culligan’s bottled water service. “Our owner, John Packard, said, ‘We’re going into the bottled water business,’ and I remember thinking, ‘Who is going to buy bottled water? That’s crazy,’” she recalled, noting that change came less than 30 years ago, but in that time, Culligan’s bottled water customer base has grown from just 12 in the metro area to more than 100,000. Fast forward a few years from the bottled water undertaking to 1992, and another significant change occurred when
001821527r1
CULLIGAN
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www.brainerddispatch.com
BAXTER LIONS
Over $125,000 Donated back to the Community in 2018
41 Years
HEALTHCARE
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41 Years
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13815 Cherrywood Drive, Baxter, MN 218-829-4105
In the Brainerd/Baxter area since 1980
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www.holdenelectric.com
www.burschtravel.com
Colleen Goedker, REALTOR
“Custom...delivered.” 001823338r1
829-1976 800-950-4707
(218) 829-4759
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7837 Excelsior Road Suite 100 Baxter, MN
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Lutheran Church and Preschool
7669 College Road Baxter, Minnesota 56425-2688
001823160r1
Business Traditions
8 Thursday, January 31, 2019 www.brainerddispatch.com
C-B MOVERS From Page 1
Jerry Jr. was in eighth grade then and started helping his dad at work in the summers. “When they were working, I was there. Dad and I basically learned together,” he said. After graduating from Pine River-Backus High School in 1982, he joined his dad at C-B Movers. His father was always a good welder and made the equipment needed to move buildings. In the early days, they used wooden beams to support structures. That evolved into using steel beams. C-B Movers serves central Minnesota but does travel across the state to move buildings. Taking jobs farther away did become necessary during the 2008 recession, but the business survived. C-B Movers moves various types of buildings, from yard sheds, pole buildings and garages to cabins, houses and barns. For 10 years the company worked with Verndale Custom Homes, and thus started specializing in moving rambler homes. Jerry Jr. said he’s moved 550 Verndale Homes. That company now has a new owner and C-B Movers is working with them again. The business has moved buildings for area resorts, including Madden’s and most recently Grand View Lodge. A recent challenge was moving a residential house from Pelican Lake to Lake Margaret. “I told him, there’s no way to move this thing unless we can cut it in two,” Jerry Jr. said, noting they cut the house in half lengthwise and set each half on a basement. “It was remarkable how it turned out. You’d never know it was moved.” The job is not just about moving buildings. It includes contacting power companies, getting the necessary permits and police escorts. And the rise in roundabouts on roads presents new challenges. “Roundabouts are an enemy of house moving,” Jerry Jr. said. Contacting the correct power companies can be burdensome. One 20-mile haul involved five different power companies that had lines along the route, Jerry Jr. said. He’s working with first responders to try to get state legislation that would require power companies to put their nameplates on power poles. C-B Movers has year-round work, but May-December is the busiest with many 60- to 70-hour work weeks. “It signals go-time when (road) restrictions are off (May 15),” Jerry Jr. said. He said house movers are known as “original recyclers” because they repurpose buildings instead of tearing them down and depositing them into landfills. Jerry Sr. said the company has come quite a long way from when he first started it. He and Doris live next door to the business on County Road 1 in a home they moved there from Gull Lake. They’re happy to see their oldest son keep the family business going and are hopeful the third generation will do the same. “I like the work,” Jerry Jr. said. “I like the challenge of it. It’s hard work, there’s no doubt about it. Our family has always enjoyed the gratification that comes with hard work.” Nancy Vogt may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes. com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
Submitted Photos
TOP: C-B Movers moved this barn from the Verndale area. MIDDLE: Around 1983, C-B Movers moved a building at McGuire’s Piney Ridge Lodge in Pine River to another location on the property to make way for the first tee of the former resort’s golf course. BOTTOM: C-B Movers moved this structure for Grand View Lodge in Nisswa.
33 Years
32 Years
SECOND HAND STORE
218-829-1224
Baxter
(218) 829-9238 or 1-888-221-5785
Open March-December
Kevin W. Dens, DDS Christopher K. Dens DDS
Hwy. 371 North 6 miles north of Brainerd
218.454.7000
001821980r1
28 Years
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28 Years
Better fresh. Better valu. Better than ever! 13021 Evergreen Drive Baxter, MN 56425
Gentle Dentistry www.densdental.com
218-828-0122 www.Cygnetureonline.com
26 Years
OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK
Practicing in the Brainerd Lakes area for 30 years. 7870 Excelsior Rd., Baxter Brainerd Office: 218.828.9545 • 877.338.3957
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Second Time Around www.gnhomecare.com
29 Years
31 Years
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23 Years
Baxter, MN 828-4601
22 Years
(Next to Kentucky Fried Chicken)
829-3080
22 Years
21 Years
218-829-3457 www.lindarcorp.com
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17 Years
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7789 Hastings Road Baxter, MN 56425 001824111r1
14466 Dellwood Dr. Baxter, MN
16 Years
Baxter 218.855.1320 Crosslake 218.692.2455 Nisswa 218.963.3316
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323 S 6th Street Downtown Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 829-8542 Hours M-F 9-6; Sat 9-5
frandsenbank.com Member FDIC
13 YEARS
218-822-3736
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Rock Solid Rehab
• Remote Starters • Heated Seats • Marine & Car Audio • Boat & Vehicle Detailing
Serving the Brainerd and St. Cloud Community
Your precious moments stored in old formats are never sent away for processing.
218-829-5529
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15620 Edgewood Dr, Suite 240, Baxter www.rocksolidrehab.com
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8 Years
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Owner/Operator
14643 Edgewood Dr. Baxter
7208 Fairview Road Baxter
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www.pizzaranch.com
(Copyright Free Materials Only)
Jennifer Pedersen 001824957r1
218-454-7012
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12 Years
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218-454-3290
218-822-1133
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15240 Dellwood Dr. 218-833-1400 www.applebees.com
www.cedarbrook.us
Also Custom Orthotics
14221 Golf Course Drive, Suite 200 Baxter, MN 56425 001813036r1
218.454.0090
218-829-2929
7734 Excelsior Road North, Baxter Lakesareaeyecare.com
Jerry Jensen, MA, LP (42 yrs service)
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Dr. David Anderholm 7115 Forthun RdSuite 105 Baxter, MN 56425
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Footwear for Everyday People
Dr. Kristel Schamber Dr. Brooke Fenstad Greg Olson, Optician Theresa Van’t Hul, Optician. Ellen Kraling, Optometric Assistant