May 28, 2011

Schmidt’s Jewelry And Gifts Celebrates 90 Years Of BusinessBy Deb CleworthWausauDailyHerald.com

It’s not uncommon for businesses to come and go, but some last decades.

One Wisconsin Rapids retailer is celebrating almost a century of doing business in the community.

“It’s the longest-(standing) retail business, as far as I know,” said Randy Carpenter, owner of Schmidt’s Jewelry and Gifts, 120 E. Grand Ave., which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

Edward “E.J.” Schmidt opened the store in 1921 and owned it until 1958, when his son George “Pudge” Schmidt took over the business. Pudge Schmidt operated the store until Carpenter took over in 1998.

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