2113 North Wisconsin Street (Racine, Wisconsin)

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2113 North Wisconsin Street
Map
General information
TypeCommercial building
Location2113 North Wisconsin Street
420 Goold Street
Racine, Wisconsin
Coordinates42°44′53″N 87°47′09″W / 42.74804°N 87.78570°W / 42.74804; -87.78570Coordinates: 42°44′53″N 87°47′09″W / 42.74804°N 87.78570°W / 42.74804; -87.78570
Construction started1958
OwnerRacine/Kenosha Community Action Agency

2113 North Wisconsin Street, also known as 420 Goold Street, is a building on the northeast corner of North Wisconsin Street and Goold Street in Racine, Wisconsin. Originally built for a Piggly Wiggly supermarket that opened in 1960 and closed in 1979, the building later housed Western Publishing's outlet store, The Boat House, from 1985 to 1996. Since 2000, it has been the central office of Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency, a local social services organization.

420 Goold Street was the building's original address, and remains its legal address,[1] but there is no longer an entrance on Goold, and 2113 North Wisconsin Street is the address displayed on the building.

History[edit | edit source]

The building at 420 Goold Street was built on the former site of Crystal Lake, an abandoned clay pit that filled with rainwater and became a pond used for skating and ice harvesting in the winter.[2] Hess Brothers planned its fifth Piggly Wiggly franchise supermarket in Racine as the first part of the proposed Zoo Village Shopping Center.[3] Construction on the building began in late 1958.[4] The store officially opened on January 12, 1960.[5]

The 11,500-square-foot (1,070 m2) Piggly Wiggly store closed on August 25, 1979, and was replaced by a larger store at the Shorecrest Shopping Center, which opened on August 29.[6]

In November 1980, Richard Hinsman and Leonard Montalbano purchased the building from The Prairie School. Jetzer's variety store, previously located at 1709 Douglas Avenue since 1966, moved into the 420 Goold Street building, opening on August 1, 1982.[7] Jetzer's announced that it was going out of business in April 1983, with its final sale ending before June 4.[8]

Western Publishing This is a link to a Wikipedia article held a holiday clearance sale in the building in December 1983.[9] In 1985, Western Publishing moved its clearance outlet store for damaged and excess merchandise, The Boat House, into the building. The store became a regional destination for holiday shopping that attracted tour buses.[10]

In July 1995, the Racine office of the state Division of Probation and Parole considered moving into the building alongside several other sites, from its existing location at the City Hall Annex. Although no plans for relocation were ever actually made, local residents protested against having the office near the Racine Zoo.[11] The Boat House closed in October 1996, with the opening of the new Golden Books Outlet Store at Factory Outlet Centre.[12] In May 1999, the Friends of Seniors considered purchasing the building to convert it into a senior center, although the organization needed a grant from the city in order to afford the property.[13] While the Friends of Seniors were unable to acquire the 420 Goold Street building before it was again sold, the advocacy effort for a senior center in the area continued, it ultimately succeeded in converting the nearby Lakeview Community Center building at 201 Goold Street, opening the Belle City Senior Center there in 2004.[14]

Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency purchased the building from Leonard Montalbano on December 15, 1999, for $280,000.[1] The agency was previously headquartered at Memorial Hall in downtown Racine, but renovations at that building forced it to move. RKCAA began operating in the building on January 3, 2000.[15] In September 2000, the agency requested $252,818 in Community Development Block Grant funding from the city of Racine to renovate the building.[16] The city recommended granting the agency $75,000, but revised its recommendation down to $50,000 to fit within the city's grant budget.[17]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Property Information: 420 GOOLD ST", cityofracine.org.
  2. "Excavators Dig Up Reminders of City History", Racine Journal Times, May 3, 1959, section 3, page 6.
  3. "Piggly Wiggly to Open 5th Store in January", Racine Journal Times, December 27, 1959, section 3, page 6.
  4. "Reveal Plans for Zoo Village Shopping Area Construction to Get Under Way This Winter", Racine Journal Times, November 2, 1958, page 39.
  5. Full page advertisement, Racine Journal Times, January 11, 1960, page eight.
  6. "Business Briefs: Piggly Wiggly opening", Racine Journal Times, August 28, 1979, page 1D.
  7. "Jetzer's variety store to move", Racine Journal Times, July 9, 1982, page 4B.
  8. "Bits of business: Jetzer's variety store...", Racine Journal Times, April 6, 1983, page 4B.
  9. "Bad lights here", Racine Journal Times, December 22, 1983, front page.
  10. Matthews, John. "Boat House books beckon: Western outlet store a favorite with shoppers", Racine Journal Times, December 11, 1988, page 4B.
  11. Johnston, Cynthia. "Parole office relocation hits nerve", Racine Journal Times, July 17, 1995, page 1B.
  12. Sumner Coon, Laura. "Golden Books store will move to Hwy. 50", Racine Journal Times, September 7, 1996, front page and page 11A.
  13. Block, Dustin. "Seniors rally for center", Racine Journal Times, May 29, 1999, page 1B.
  14. Golub, Rob. "News: Senior center", Racine Journal Times, June 2, 2004, page 2A.
  15. "Community Action Agency moves", Racine Journal Times, January 14, 2000.
  16. "Proposals for Community Development Block Grant funding: No. 46. Renovation of 2113 N. Wisconsin St.", Racine Journal Times, September 4, 2000, page 7A.
  17. Buttweiler, Joe. "City panel pares list of grant recipients", Racine Journal Times, September 14, 2000, front page and page 11A.

External links[edit | edit source]