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| 3/30/2007 8:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Super 3 Foods will close April 14 due to rising costs and current and future competition. |
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| A shot of Beller’s Super Valu, circa 1958. |
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Super 3 Foods in Woodruff to close doors in two weeks
Grocery store was open for half century at current location
Ed Culhane
Reporter
The Super 3 Foods store in Woodruff will close April 15, falling victim to rising costs, and "current and future competition," its owners said.
Brian Krueger, who told employees about the closing Wednesday, said he and his wife, Julie, will concentrate their efforts on Save More Market Place, the grocery store they own in Minocqua.
"Due to rising costs of doing business and with current competing entities and with future competition coming, it is not feasible to keep the store open," Brian Krueger told The Lakeland Times. "We would like to thank out past Super 3 customers for their support over the last 20-plus years."
Although Krueger didn't name the future competition, it has been widely anticipated that the impending construction of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Hwy. 70 west would result in the closure of at least one area grocery store.
"Our resources will go into Save More Market Place, which will keep us strong in a changing business environment," Krueger said.
The Super 3 Foods store, in various incarnations, has been a fixture of life in Woodruff for 90 years.
It began in 1917 when John Beller Sr. opened the New Palace Market on 1st Avenue in downtown Woodruff. It was John Beller Sr. and his wife, Margaret, who donated the land to establish what is now Holy Family Catholic Church.
In 1950, Beller and his three sons moved the store three blocks south onto Hwy. 51. It was then called Beller's Super Valu.
Rudy Beller eventually became the sole owner, purchasing shares from his brothers John and Frank.
Rudy Beller was a local legend. He played Santa Claus for more than 50 years, going house to house by sleigh, snowmobile or fire truck. He was also very active in the American Legion.
In 1983, Rudy Beller sold the grocery store to Frank Beer, who ran it for three years as Beer's Super Valu. It was then purchased by the Kruegers.
Ed Culhane can be reached at ed@lakelandtimes.com.
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