History Speaks | Checking Out: The Grocery Stores and Early Supermarkets of Marathon County

Join us for this program in which MCHS librarian Gary Gisselman shares the history of the mid-century grocery stores of Marathon County. From your neighborhood store on the corner to the early supermarkets, come relive/learn about the history of how we got our food.
Recorded from a live broadcast on Saturday March 27, 2021.
History Speaks is a program of the Marathon County Historical Society, presented in cooperation with the Marathon County Public Library.
Big thanks to Janke Book Store for sponsoring our online series this year.

[@dscottpeterson6653]

Excellent presentation. I always love hearing about all things Wausau. We used Kemp's Corner Store on Sherman and 17th Ave.

[@JeffKain]

I enjoyed your thorough video regarding grocery stores. You put a lot of work into this. Thank you. I lived in Marathon City in 1967 due to my father's career. We would drive a short distance outside of town and visit a larger shopping mall area that offered what larger 'box stores' of today in 2024 offer. I don't remember the name of the "plaza". I recall buying record albums there and I believe the super store was located on the outskirts of Marathon City, traveling east toward Wausau. I lived out of state for decades and have only retuned to WI recently and have visited the area, trying to locate this store and where it might have been located. Forgive my vagueness and uncertainty with respect to location, but I think it was quite popular and sold various products and possibly groceries, too. It was a "mega store." Do you have any idea what this store was called and where it would have been? Thank you for your time. Best.

[@leex6324]

Gertchens on 6th Ave between elm and maple. I used to trade empty egg cartons for credit towards candy.