West Bend, Wi – A odd turn of events for Vintage Underground, as the mega vintage resale store, which was just weeks from opening, is now holding a massive auction October 28, 2023, as the building he moved into will be sold Nov. 1, 2023.
Chris Ford received a notice to vacate the premises at the former Chase Bank location, 801 W. Washington Street, in West Bend, WI.
An auction is set for October 28, 2023.
“As you may have heard, we are not opening Vintage Underground WB at 801 W Washington St. West Bend, WI 53095. I will be taking a career position and have no place to go with the majority of cool vintage stuff I collected all these years. The auction will be October 28. Would you be able to let your readers know about the auction? Thank you.”
Best,
Chris Ford
Ford’s collection of memorabilia is extensive from celebrity cardboard cutouts of Dolly Parton, Elvis, Madonna, and Pamela Sue Anderson to a life size Michael Myers from “Halloween” fame.
Building owner Jeremy Hahn was set to lease the upper level to Vintage Underground, which had operated out of a building on Highway 28 in St. Michaels.
Now Hahn is selling the building. Closing is set for November 1, 2023. The sale price is reportedly $699,000. A local law firm is the reported buyer.
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The shop, run by Chris Ford, has grown quite a following over the past two years since opening in October 2021. The shop carries an experience that will take you back to the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and beyond.
There’s a lot of music from 33 rpm vinyl records to cassette tapes, vintage rock n’ roll t-shirts, toys, signs… you name it. If you liked clothes that were brown, avocado green, yellow, or something that said, “Keep on truckin” … you’ll love this store.
On a history note – The Chase building last sold December 13, 2021 for $600,000 to 801 W. Washington Street Property LLC. Jeremy and Lester Hahn are the owners.
Hahn already owns several restaurants/bars on Main Street in the downtown including Garden Lounge and Boardroom.
A bit of history on the old Chase bank property:
- May 3, 2019, the bank sent letters to customers notifying them the branch would close August 1, 2019.
- January 2020 the parcel was sold to Chris Wenzel, Founder and CEO of Alexssa Enterprises, LTD. Wenzel said the new building would serve as headquarters for his company. Wenzel closed on the purchase Friday, January 31, 2020, for $575,000.
- Hahn closed on the parcel for $600,000.
- In October 2020 Wenzel sold Alexssa Enterprises, LTD to River Run.
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The 2021 assessment is $585,000. The 2021 property tax is $12,866.34.
On a history note: That Chase bank location has been through several name changes. Records in the City assessor’s office show it was Marine Bank in 1972 and Banc One in 1992.
On another history note: Remember when the factories, West Bend Company, Amity Leather, and Enger Kress, were in West Bend and on Fridays the banks were open late because people lined up to cash/deposit their checks. At noon some tellers even noticed customers had a little beer on their breath after having a 10-cent tapper during lunch.
