March 15, 2024 – Kewaskum, WI – There’s some major change in the works in small town Kewaskum. Aside from the road construction on Fond du Lac Avenue, two of the large, local businesses have carried out a significant real estate transaction.
Miller’s Furniture, 1313 Fond du Lac Avenue, which is a family-owned business that has been in the community since 1910 has purchased the General Store Antique Mall next door.
Cheryl Peterson, president of Miller’s Furniture, is excited about the expansion. “It’s been in my family since 1910, and I’m the first female owner,” she said. “My husband, Derek, and I bought it from my parents, Eda and Sharon Miller. We’ve been looking to expand for a while, and when the opportunity to purchase the General Store Antique Mall came up, we knew it was the right move for us.”
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The Petersons originally planned to expand in 2020, but those plans were put on hold. “We were going to expand that way, because we knew the owner of that property was looking to sell. So, this past fall, we actually purchased the home to the north,” Cheryl said. “We were just starting to go through renovations, which we’re still doing. It wasn’t going to be ideal, but it was going to allow us to showcase more of our outdoor product show.”
However, when they heard the General Store Antique Mall might be up for sale, the Petersons jumped at the chance. “Opportunities with buildings like that don’t come on the market often,” Cheryl said. “Even though the timing maybe wasn’t great, because we were concentrating on the north side, we approached them and said, ‘I know you were looking for an antique store, but would you consider selling it to someone that wasn’t going to use it as an antique store?'”
The Petersons envision the new space as a way to showcase more of their outdoor furniture and expand their product lines. “We love just the historic feel of it. So, it was ideal,” Cheryl said. “We’ll have both regular furniture and outdoor furniture over there. That’ll allow us to expand across the board.”
The expansion will be done in stages, with the first-floor opening, followed by the second floor at a later date.
“We’re going to be doing on the inside to make things because we might be you know, putting in track lighting or things like that to set like I feel like you would probably need a Furniture Showroom,” Derek said. “So it might be in stages, especially with the road construction. I don’t know like how that’s going to impact things too. So, I envision the first floor being open first, and then probably the second at some point and then having a grand opening.”
For Cheryl, the expansion is not just a business move, but a way to honor her family’s legacy. “I had two of my aunts that are third generation come over today. We wanted to tell them and my one aunt who worked here her entire life just started crying,” Cheryl said.
“She said, ‘Grandpa would be so pleased because you know, he was part of this all when that was Rosenheimer’s and before it became the antique store.’ So, the fact we’re keeping it an historic building, she said he would just be so happy.”
As Miller’s Furniture embarks on this new chapter, they remain committed to providing the same quality products and service that have been their hallmark for over a century.
With the expansion into the General Store Antique Mall, Cheryl and Derek Peterson are ensuring that Miller’s Furniture will continue to be a cherished part of the Kewaskum community for generations to come.
Mary Woerner Weber, owner of the General Store Antique Mall, said she wished the Peterson’s all the best. Woerner Weber will be hosting several sales events. Click HERE for more information.
Below is the initial announcement regarding the sale of the General Store Antique Mall.
March 14, 2024 – Kewaskum, WI – It was December 29, 2017, when Mary Woerner Weber became the new owner of the General Store Antique Mall, 1277 Fond du Lac Avenue, in Kewaskum.
While Woerner Weber always had “a fascination with antiques.”
“I was into the pink Depression glass and then moved to Department 56, the villages, the snow babies. My grandma started me on a toothpick collection when I was born, and she collected chickens so everyone in my family has collected things through the years.”
With a background in law enforcement and drug rehabilitation, Woerner Weber said it was definitely time for a change and she found a “fun job.”
Now, seven short years later, another change is in the offing as Woerner Weber has sold the 2-story, 14,000-square-foot building.
“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “I love this. I am so thankful for our wonderful dealers and loyal customers because they became our family through the years. But it has been a lot of work, and right now, with me working full time in addition to family obligations, it’s just been too much.”
The Antique Mall has been a fixture in Kewaskum for over 35 years; the building itself has a rich history. “It’s a 200-year-old building with a lot of character,” said Woerner Weber. “We have a walk-in safe and an ancient elevator that was made in West Bend many years ago.”
Formerly L. Rosenheimer Department Store, Woerner Weber appreciates the history.
“It has ties to the Rosenheimer grocery that started in Slinger,” she said. “It was originally a general store and the Rosenheimer’s owned a malt house across the street, and they used to pipe steam underground to heat the store. The basement has some unique history.”
The 14,000-square-foot building has been well maintained. Woerner Weber said with so much floor space she does gravitate to the front counter where customers check out. “The old wooden cabinets were probably used for display when this was the old General Store,” she said. “The front counter is where the clerk’s measured and cut fabric; it’s just so historical.”
While Woerner Weber will miss the business, she is grateful for the support she has received. “I will miss that piece, but everybody understands,” she said. “They’ve been very supportive.”
As for the future of antique stores, Woerner Weber said it is a business that’s going through change. “A lot of our dealers are older, so I think a lot of them will be retiring,” she said.
In an effort to help the vendors and clear out the store, there will be a Spring Storewide Sale on March 19 – 30, 2024.
Woerner Weber also plans to run a store closing sale through April 27, with dealers moving out by May 11, 2024.
Miller’s Furniture will take over ownership May 17. It will be an addition to their current store on Fond du Lac Avenue.
Stay tuned, on Friday more details on what’s next from Miller’s Furniture owners Derek and Cheryl Peterson.
