As times change, Winking’s remains
July 2, 2008
By Jamie Busen
The stream of people is constant in the small
white market at the corner of Fourth and
Every time the door opens on this Tuesday morning,
a chime announces the patron's arrival. They are coming to Winking's
Market, and their purchases vary vastly: oranges, a pocket comb, bologna,
tobacco, ham salad, liver cheese, penny candy.
But the one thing 99 percent of these people have
in common is that Frank Winking or his mother, June, knows their first names.
"We have lots of regulars -- lots," said
Frank Winking, who took over sole ownership in late 2005.
It could be one of the reasons behind the store's
longevity. Today, the family celebrates 60 years in business.
The other major reason could be because Winking's Market hasn't really changed much over the years.
It doesn't accept credit cards. The signs are mostly handwritten. Prices have
risen over the years, but you can still get a turkey and cheese sandwich for $1.83.
Delivery service faded out about 10 years ago, but
otherwise the Winkings haven't tried to reinvent
themselves -- and it seems to work.
The store opened at 416 S. Fourth on July 2, 1948.
Dick Winking and his aunt, Elsie Feld, started the
business for $400. The 1882 building had been some sort of a grocery market as
far back as anyone can recall, though the original owner was a "shoemaker
by trade."
In 1956, there were 108 corner market-type stores
in
Frank Winking said when the
Quite the opposite -- it opened up the view, and workers
from all around started frequenting the place more often. More than half of Winking's business is his lunch food.
He employs two people -- his niece and nephew,
Lindsey and Jonathon Schmidt. His mom volunteers her time during the lunch
hour, along with her sister, Jean. And his father, 83, makes it a daily point
to come into the business he began so long ago.
"He does what he can," Winking said.
He said his father is one reason the business has
been around for so long.
"He devoted his entire life to the store, and
without him, I would have had nothing to take over," he said. "All
the glory should be in his honor, really."
Winking said he's going to keep the store open as
long as he can. The only downside of running the business he loves is that he's
there about 70 hours a week.
He has no intention of relocating -- it just
wouldn't be the same to open a place like that brand-new, he said. The market
would lose all the nostalgia, he said, and it would "likely cost a lot
more than $400," he added with a laugh.
He's content now and very busy, and things are
going well.
Winking said one more reason for the store's
success is the loyal customers. The market has a good relationship with all of
them, and in turn, the customers appreciate the friendliness.
"You know, we are for the working man,"
June Winking said as she rang up a customer's order. "They appreciate that
about us, because we understand what that is."