Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

June 4, 2008, Page 2

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

New Business at a historic venue

By Peter Spicer

A building with 100 years of history in Greenwood’s downtown is now the home of “Centuries on Main,” a flower and gift shop.

Co-owners Michelle Lucas and Tonia Wuethrich will open “Centuries on Main,” located at 105 North Main Street, Wednesday, June 11 (2008).  The store will feature fresh flowers, gifts, home décor items and local dairy products.

Lucas and Wuethrich had wanted to run a business together for a long time and took advantage of an opportunity to purchase the building when it became available.  They bought out “Friends Flowers and Gifts,” a nearby Main Street flower shop, and will employ the former shop’s owner Pat Lindner, who possesses an abundance of flower store knowledge.

Lindner will help break Wuethrich and Lucas into the flower business.  Wuethrich was previously employed by Memorial Medical Center; Lucas was an accountant.

Starting a business in a century-old building wasn’t an easy task, however.

“We basically gutted the building,” said Lucas.  “It’s been quite the project.”

Lucas and Wuethrich received construction help from their families to rebuild many parts of the building.

Projects included dry walling, roofing, plumbing, wiring, insulating and replacing most of he back half of the building.  The store’s original floors and ceiling remain intact.

“It was a long, drawn-out process,” said Lucas.  “We’ve been working on it nonstop.”

Lucas and Wuethrich plan to eventually expand the store to the second level.

The building is best remembered as a hardware store, which was a Greenwood staple for approximately 50 years.  The most recent business at the building was a screen-printing shop.

With hard work, Lucas and Wuethrich will set up inventory quickly and open shop.

Store hours will be 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for both Wednesday June 11, and Thursday, June 12.

A grand opening is planned Friday, June 13, through Sunday, June 15.  The store will be open Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon during the store’s first weekend. 

After the grand opening, the store will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The store’s opening was a long time coming for Lucas and Wuethrich.

“This is something we’ve always talked about, concluded Lucas.  “It’s been a family project.”

(Above) “Centuries on Main” flower and gift shop will open Wednesday, June 11.  Owners Michelle Lucas and Tonia Wuethrich are looking forward to running the store, located at 105 North Main Street, Greenwood.  (Below) The building haws a 100-year history in Greenwood and is best known for its 50 years as the C. C. Hoehne Hardware Company.  (Photos by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)