2023

Local businesses that have been passed down from one generation to the next is the theme of this year’s Impact magazine. It focuses on businesses that have remained in the same family for years and who have made their mark – and impact – on the economy and community of Douglas County.

It features businesses that have been in the family for just a couple decades to businesses that have been around for more than 100 years. Businesses that last for generations lend a sense of continuity and stability to a community especially during times of change.

Forum Communications, the parent company of the Echo Press, was started in 1917 by the great-great-grandfather of Bill Marcil, Jr., our company’s president and CEO. He is the fifth generation to run this business. He, along with the rest of the Echo Press staff, is honored to celebrate all the other generational businesses in our community.

We know there are many, many more that we would have loved to include, but we narrowed it down to the 16 that are featured within the pages of this magazine.

Generational businesses have roots in a community. They are connected. They have seen growth and they helped to fuel that growth.

Generational businesses in the Douglas County community are definitely not an anomaly, which as one business owner said, “That right there tells you how much our community and businesses support each other, because we are all still here –working and supporting each other.”

Our hope is that the community not only embraces and supports these generational businesses, but all businesses within our community. Who knows, that business that just opened may end up being just like these featured businesses – passed down from generation to generation.

Now a three-generation owned business, Carlson Music Center in downtown Alexandria is owned and operated by Kathryn Carlson. She has owned the business for a couple of years, purchasing it in 2020 from her father, Ron Carlson, who purchased it from his father, Sid Carlson.

QWho started the business and what year did it begin?

AMy grandfather, Sidney Carlson, started the business in 1948. He saw the need for a place to provide musical instruments to Alexandria and the surrounding communities.

QWho are all the previous owners of the business and what are the relationships between the owners?

AMy grandfather, Sidney Carlson, started the business, and then in 1988, my father, Ron, took over, and then I was able to take ownership in 2020.

QAs the current owners, why was it important to you to keep the family business going?

AI’m very proud of how my dad and grandpa were able to serve the musical community, whether it be a school, church, band or individual with instruments, service, education, repairs and support. So it is very important to me to keep that service to the musical community going for future generations.

QHow has the business changed over the years? Any new locations, etc.?

ACarlson Music Center has had many locations over the years as well