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Historical Museum
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Eddie
Cochran Legends
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Northpark - A Business From the Past
Legend #100 - July 2008 Freeborn County Heritage Book - Page 546 In May, 1926, the North Side Drug Store was purchased by Richard and Gladys Schacht, who at the time were living in Rochester, Minn. Richard was employed as a Pharmacist in a Rochester Drug Store, gladys was a nursing supervisor in one of the Kahler Hospitals. The North Side Drug Store at that time was in the hands of receivers. (The North Side Bank). James Nelson, then President of the North Side Bank, convinced the Schachts that they should buy the closed store. Mr. Nelson was enthusiastic about the future growth of the North Side, which was commonly called New Denmark, also the graveled Highway 65 to Minneapolis passed in front of the store on Bridge Avenue. Mr. Nelson had an advantage in his sales talk, in that he knew Mrs. Schacht (the former Gladys Thompson) was born and raised north of Albert Lea.  It was not long after they settled into their Store, that the great depression hit. They took advantage of the highway running in front of the store by advertising their soda fountain with a large malted milk sign. This was a traffic stopper, and the soda fountain business grew, becoming well known for colossal sundaes, malts, and other fancy dishes, all at unbelievable prices. In the early days, all the fountain syrups were made in the store, fresh chocolate syrup was made every day. They made their own Eskimo pies and popsicles. The store was open at 8:00 A.M. to get the farmers business when they came to the Co-op creamery located across the street, and closed when they had the last customer of the day, which was often after midnight. After the soda fountain had produced the desired traffic, gift lines and fine perfumes were added, and free gift wrapping was introduced to the area. The store name was changed to North Side Drug and Gift Shop. The business grew and prospered, space became a problem, it was about this time, 1950, their daughter Elaine and her husband Robert Langemo both graduated from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota and entered into partnership with the Schachts. The family immediately began making plans for a new 100 X 32 foot building on the other side of Bridge Avenue. This new building was the first major construction in Albert Lea after World War II. There were many obstacles to overcome, as there were still allocations on steel and concrete, and much negative advice on not to build at the time as it was at the peak of cost, and things would surely go down and that it was the wrong side of the street, etc. The building was built, and, the over 25,000 people that attended the Grand Opening in 1954 proved to the Schachts and Langemos that they had made the right move. In the new store, new extensive gift lines, fashion jewelry, and children's clothes were added. It wasn't long before the drug and gift business increased so that it crowded out the soda fountain and the Walnut Room was added to especially display all the major fine china, silver, and crystal lines, and a new bridal registry service. Elaine Langemo studied under the National Bridal Service and earned the Registered Bridal Consultant Certificate. As these new departments grew, space again became a problem, and in 1961 the building was more than doubled in size. The Pharmacy was moved into new and larger quarters, The Sibley Shop was opened and the Gem Shop was added. Robert Langemo is a gemologist having earned his G.I.A. Certificate on diamond grading and evaluation, from the Gemological Institute of America. The name of the greatly enlarged store with its many shops was changed to Northpark. The store was remodeled in 1979, adding a complete Hallmark Card Shop and a Just for Him men's shop in the arcade. In 1980, the last addition to the building provided room for a new enlarged office space and a certified fitting room in which orthotic supports and appliances, compression hose, and prosthesis are fitted. Elaine and Robert Langemo are both registered certified fitters. Northpark was a family owned and operated store until 2003, bringing to the residents of Freeborn County, Quality, Value and Personal Service.  |
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