CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISC., 2016-Apr-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Established on the Southside of Chippewa Falls in 1966 by Gordy and Donna Schafer, Gordy’s Market is kicking off its yearlong 50th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday, April 16, 2016.
Founded on the values of providing local families with quality products at affordable prices while paying high attention to friendly service, Gordy’s continues to offer its local communities these long standing traditions. A family owned and operated tradition spanning over 3 generations, the grocery business has been a passion of the Schafer Family for 50 years.
Gordy Schafer was introduced to the world of meat cutting at the age of 13 by his older brother, marking the beginning of Gordy’s career in the
grocery industry. “By the time I was 17 years old I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to be in the grocery business,” Gordy reminisces, “and it took until I was 26 to get my first opportunity with our first store on the Southside of Chippewa Falls; 419 South Main, 715-723-4828, I remember all of those things, it was very important.”
The Schafer Family bought their first store from the Schulz Brothers and Gordy gives credit to John Schulz who was a sausage maker with the Schulz Brothers business who stayed on with Gordy’s when they opened in 1966. “John Schulz got us started on the sausage making operation, which has grown to be a major part of our business today,” Gordy explains.
Gordy’s Market remains one of the longest locally owned and operated grocery stores in the Chippewa Valley. And though a great deal has changed and evolved over the past 50 years, two things remain the same, their focus on community and service.
The 50th Anniversary Kick Off Celebrations Will Include:
- On Saturday, April 16 starting at 8am, all stores will be handing out Golden Tickets offering a $0.50 Gas Rewards! Coupon to the First 50 Customers
- On Saturday, April 16 from 11am-4pm, Gordy’s Market West in Eau Claire will be a hosting a cheese carver who will be carving their 50th Anniversary Paper Bag out of a 40 lb. block of locally made La Grander’s Cheese
- On Saturday, April 23 starting at 8am, all stores will be handing out coupons for Gordy’s Market and Our Family Products
- Just a Kid from Chippewa video campaign on gordys.com/about, as well as a 30 sec. spot on WEAU Channel 13
- In association with the “Just a Kid” campaign, Gordy’s will be giving way a limited amount of “Just a Kid from Eau Claire” and “Just a Kid from Chippewa” t shirts to the first 5 customers in each of the Gordy’s Market Chippewa Valley stores on Saturday, April 16 at 8am
- All 25 Gordy’s Markets will unveil 50th Anniversary Banners at their storefronts, picturing a photo of the original Gordy’s Market on the Southside of Chippewa Falls
- All 25 Gordy’s Markets will unveil 50th Anniversary In Store Danglers, designed with photos from Gordy’s original stores
- All Gordy’s Market employees received special 50th Anniversary t shirts and will be wearing during the celebrations throughout the year, including community parades during the Summer
- Community Connection:
- Canoes for a Cause in partnership with Leinenkugel’s, another local Chippewa Falls business, will take place Saturday, April 16 – Saturday, June 4
- For every case of Leinenkugel’s beer purchased, $0.25 will be donated to the WI River Alliance to support the lakes in Gordy’s and Leinie’s surrounding communities
- With Earth Day approaching, Gordy’s Market and Leinenkugel’s wanted to utilize the exposure from the 50th Anniversary to draw awareness to this cause
- Non-Profit Brat Barns, Saturday, April 16 and April 23, 10am-2pm
- Gordy’s Market has partnered with local Non-Profit Organizations throughout their communities to host grill outs in front of the grocery stores, with all proceeds from the sales going to the Non-Profit running the Gordy’s Brat Barn
- Canoes for a Cause in partnership with Leinenkugel’s, another local Chippewa Falls business, will take place Saturday, April 16 – Saturday, June 4
- Gordy’s has partnered with a number of vendors to provide a long list of exciting giveaways during the April 16-29 kick off celebrations:
- 2 Years of Free Milk from Land O Lakes
- 2 Brew Pub Pizza Packages
- 50 gallons free gas/store from Mega! Holiday
- Weber grill (est. msrp $500)
- 2 customers will receive a $10.00 per week voucher/coupon/gift card for the purchase of Tender Ridge Angus beef for 52 weeks…a value of $1,040
- 5 customers will receive a $5.00 per week voucher/coupon/ gift card for the purchase of Tender Ridge Angus beef for 52 weeks…a value of $1,300
- Free chicken for a year from Gold n’ Plump (52 $10 coupons)
- (50) $50 Gordy’s Gift Cards
- 4 Minnesota Twins Tickets courtesy of Post
- (50) 5-Piece Pancake Set from P&G
Thank you for 50 years of serving you and your families!
–The Schafer Family & Gordy’s Market
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