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Brennan's to be closed for remodeling next week
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Times photo: Tere Dunlap Kurt Blankenhagen, right, and Scott Elliott, work in cramped quarters Tuesday, cutting and fitting cedar siding in Brennans produce department. Brennans is making an effort to hire all local contractors for its remodeling and cooling unit upgrades project. Blankenhagen is owner of Old World Home Crafters, and Elliott owns Elliott Construction.
MONROE - The original Brennan's Country Farm Market on Monroe's west side will be closed Monday through Friday next week, while local contractors remove pillars in the produce room, reinforce ceiling beams and lay in new tile on the floor.

It's the start of a remodeling project for the store that's been on Eighth Street for 65 years.

While the store's closed, its 15 employees will be pitching to help make the store's new updated look move a little faster.

But next week is not the busiest part of the renovations.

"We've been growing the last couple of summers," Scott Klarer, the store manager, said. "I think the biggest thing is because we know how to take care of our customers."

Klarer said Brennan's is using all local contractors.

Kurt Blankenhagen, owner of Old World Home Crafters, was working hard Tuesday afternoon with subcontractor Scott Elliott, of Elliott Construction, fitting the siding around the west windows of the produce room.

Klarer said cedar siding on the inside should be done this week. All the blocks and overhead beams will eventually be covered with cedar, and then the outside will sport the same look.

"It'll look more like our other stores (in Brookfield and Madison)," Klarer said.

Employees were busy yesterday filling a just-installed dairy refrigeration unit, as Rufer Refrigeration and Heating installed the new walk-in cooler just behind it.

Next week, major work begins, which is why the store must be closed.

Carter Machine and Welding will reinforce the overhead beams to accommodate the removal of the pillars and to extend the roof's overhang.

Doors will be rearranged, and new produce coolers will allow for better display and visibility of vegetables. In the produce room, customers can expect wider aisles that allow more movement and flexibility for sampling fresh produce.

Tri-County Concrete will repair the flooring, and Zersen will be installing the red quarry tile flooring.

During construction, Klarer said, all remaining produce will be stored in the new walk-in cooler in the back of the store. Deliveries will be suspended.

Employees will be working on displays and tables, installing new shelving for supplies in the back, re-doing the prep-room and doing "a lot of cleaning," Klarer said.

And after the flurry of activity, Klarer said a permanent greenhouse will be built on the southwest corner of the building for year-round displays of seasonal items.

Tim Culhane, Brennan's manager in charge of daily operations, said the goal is to have the remodeling done before Easter.

Brennan's has been at its Eighth Street location since 1943. The remodeling project is the biggest update since the building was constructed around 1965.