Tractor Supply Co. lures customers to grand opening in Kewaunee

KEWAUNEE – Fans of Tractor Supply Co. kept sales clerks busy last Saturday morning as the rural lifestyle retailer celebrated its grand opening at 802 N. Main St.

“I am so excited that this Tractor Supply store is closer to our home,” said Valerie Schupbach, who operates White Granary Farm near Forestville with her husband, Kirk. “This Tractor Supply is beautiful. It has everything we need.”

Tractor Supply Co. opened Dec. 2 inside of what previously was a Shopko Hometown building that had sat vacant for nearly two years.

The store promotes itself as a one-stop shop for the community, serving farmers, livestock and pet owners, ranchers, part-time and hobby farmers, gardeners, homeowners, tradesmen and others.

Jesse Bliss of Algoma regularly visited the Sturgeon Bay location — one of nearly 2,000 Tractor Supply Co. stores across the country — and said he is excited to have one closer to him. He frequents the store for hay for his guinea pigs, cat food and cat litter.

“We used to come here a lot when it was a Shopko,” Bliss said. “It’s kinda sad that it shut down, but actually it’s more exciting now because I get my country store back.”

Bliss said he was eyeing up tools that Tractor Supply Co. has available as a closer place for him to shop rather than to drive to Green Bay for them.

Kewaunee didn’t have a hardware store, so the previous options were to visit Rio Creek Country Store in Algoma, a True Value store that carries farm supplies as well; smaller hardware stores in Algoma or Luxemburg; or make the half-hour trip to Green Bay, Manitowoc or Sturgeon Bay.

Tony Dorner of the town of Montpelier picked up some dog treats, rock salt and “a couple of things for my tractor” during his visit.

Dorner said he previously drove to a Fleet Farm store or Lemens Hardware in Luxemburg for his merchandise, and still occasionally will, “but this nice out here. I like it coming here … and you can bring your dog in here.”

Leashed pets are allowed inside the store, and on Saturday morning, shoppers could see dogs, a miniature horse and a sheep among the flock.

Dorner said he was pleased to see Tractor Supply Co. had a pet wash station, which he planned to take advantage of.

“(My dog) did not get washed today, but I will probably bring her back and do it again when we have more time,” Dorner said.

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Pam Gransalke, who lives in the Denmark area, said she has visited Tractor Supply Co. in Montana, where she and her husband have visited family, so she knew what to expect from the store.

Gransalke said in the summer the couple enjoy custard at Kewaunee Custard & Grill across the street, so they planned a visit to Tractor Supply Co. once it opened. They left with bird seed and suet cakes for woodpeckers.

“I think it’s good for the community,” she said, of the new store. “Because Kewaunee is such a small community.”

Christopher Clough contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Tractor Supply Co. lures customers to grand opening in Kewaunee