June 11, 2021 – West Bend, Wi – On a hot June morning the Gundrum kids, Mitch, Morgan and Jordan were prepping their dad’s Apple Barrel General Store, 229 S. Main Street, in West Bend for its final sale.
Mitch Gundrum was home from Washington D.C. and took us for a quick tour. Things had little changed, other than the heartbeat and rhythm of the store which had passed with his dad James.
The kids will carry on this weekend with a final sale. Doors open at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 11. The sale runs through Sunday, June 13 at 5 p.m.
The old cash register is still in place at the back counter. Sales will be cash or check only… just like it used to be.
Mitch Gundrum wrote an article about growing up at the store and sifting through piles of treasures with his dad. Click HERE to read.
The story hit a nerve with the public and included responses similar to the one below.
Thank you for sharing, Mitch. I was lucky enough to be one of your father’s customers who, after meeting him the first time, was treated as if we’d known each other for years. We have brought home treasures to collect from Apple Barrel but moreover collected moments of greater worth and for that matter, greater rarity. We have not been in since your father’s passing but could not miss one last chance to walk through. We will be there.
David Tarantino
On a side note: Mitch Gundrum will remain the owner of the building. He is looking for a lower-level tenant. Contact him at the store this weekend if you’re interested in locating your business at the corner store.
