MONROE - Ruf's Confectionery, Monroe's downtown landmark business that's older than Baumgartner's, is in need of another owner.
Rodney Golackson, who ran the sweets and treats store on the southwest corner of the Square for more than eight years, closed the doors Wednesday, but he would like to see the business continue.
"It's been here for a hundred years," he said. "Hopefully someone will buy it and keep it going."
Customers heard about the closing last week and began making one last trip to Ruf's, keeping Golackson busy thanking each for their loyalty.
Edward Reynolds, Monroe, has been stopping at Ruf's since the 1960s.
"I've been coming here since I can remember," he said. "We came after grocery shopping, and Dad would buy his Skoal and a newspaper."
On Tuesday, Reynolds ordered a malt and savored the flavor. "As good as I remember," he said smiling.
While Golackson owns the business, Dr. David and Sharon Riese own the building.
"We would like to see the business remain in some form as a confectionery," Sharon Riese said. "We'd like to keep the beautiful woodwork intact and restore the interior."
The Rieses said the marble soda fountain counter and glass front cabinetry are permanent structures in the store. The history of the original Ruf's can still be seen in the ornate metal ceiling, glass display cases and the coolers, which now use compressors instead of ice to keep confectioneries cool.
"I'd like to see it remain a soda fountain," Dr. Riese said. "It's getting to be the one thing in town that's older than I am."
Ruf's Confectionery began on 1904.
At the time, the city's youngest businessman, Paul A. Ruf, ran a shoe shine and confectionery stand on the northeast side of the Square
When the city planned to build the Commercial & Savings Bank at the location, Ruf refused to give up his stand. So, city leaders arranged for him to move his business to a building, once used as a grocery store, at 1600 11th St. on the southwest corner of the Square.
Ruf remained at the location for more than 40 years, selling popcorn, candy, ice cream, cigars, newspapers and magazines. He also operated a dry cabaret in the same building - "dry" because prohibition was in effect. Ruf also owned several bakeries in 10 cities throughout Wisconsin.
He sold the business in 1948, but the name has always remained the same.
The Rieses bought the building from Paul Ruf Jr. in 1985.
At that time, Bill Hawthorne ran the business, selling confectionery and cigars. Pauline Potts of Monroe worked at Ruf's Confectionery for 30 years before retiring in 1990. She died in December at the age of 93.
Sharon Riese remembers Hawthorne's store from when she was in high school,
never imagining back then that she and her future husband would eventually own the property that houses the famous candy shop.
Pat Wuetrich became the store's owner before Golackson took ownership. Wuetrich kept a three-foot-tall candy jar on a shelf on the east wall, Riese said.
"Rodney was still selling cigars up until about a year ago, about when the state smoking ban went into effect," she added.
The store remains a favorite after-school stop for Monroe students, as it has been for their parents and grandparents ... and, perhaps, their great grandparents, to find a sweet treat.
Rodney Golackson, who ran the sweets and treats store on the southwest corner of the Square for more than eight years, closed the doors Wednesday, but he would like to see the business continue.
"It's been here for a hundred years," he said. "Hopefully someone will buy it and keep it going."
Customers heard about the closing last week and began making one last trip to Ruf's, keeping Golackson busy thanking each for their loyalty.
Edward Reynolds, Monroe, has been stopping at Ruf's since the 1960s.
"I've been coming here since I can remember," he said. "We came after grocery shopping, and Dad would buy his Skoal and a newspaper."
On Tuesday, Reynolds ordered a malt and savored the flavor. "As good as I remember," he said smiling.
While Golackson owns the business, Dr. David and Sharon Riese own the building.
"We would like to see the business remain in some form as a confectionery," Sharon Riese said. "We'd like to keep the beautiful woodwork intact and restore the interior."
The Rieses said the marble soda fountain counter and glass front cabinetry are permanent structures in the store. The history of the original Ruf's can still be seen in the ornate metal ceiling, glass display cases and the coolers, which now use compressors instead of ice to keep confectioneries cool.
"I'd like to see it remain a soda fountain," Dr. Riese said. "It's getting to be the one thing in town that's older than I am."
Ruf's Confectionery began on 1904.
At the time, the city's youngest businessman, Paul A. Ruf, ran a shoe shine and confectionery stand on the northeast side of the Square
When the city planned to build the Commercial & Savings Bank at the location, Ruf refused to give up his stand. So, city leaders arranged for him to move his business to a building, once used as a grocery store, at 1600 11th St. on the southwest corner of the Square.
Ruf remained at the location for more than 40 years, selling popcorn, candy, ice cream, cigars, newspapers and magazines. He also operated a dry cabaret in the same building - "dry" because prohibition was in effect. Ruf also owned several bakeries in 10 cities throughout Wisconsin.
He sold the business in 1948, but the name has always remained the same.
The Rieses bought the building from Paul Ruf Jr. in 1985.
At that time, Bill Hawthorne ran the business, selling confectionery and cigars. Pauline Potts of Monroe worked at Ruf's Confectionery for 30 years before retiring in 1990. She died in December at the age of 93.
Sharon Riese remembers Hawthorne's store from when she was in high school,
never imagining back then that she and her future husband would eventually own the property that houses the famous candy shop.
Pat Wuetrich became the store's owner before Golackson took ownership. Wuetrich kept a three-foot-tall candy jar on a shelf on the east wall, Riese said.
"Rodney was still selling cigars up until about a year ago, about when the state smoking ban went into effect," she added.
The store remains a favorite after-school stop for Monroe students, as it has been for their parents and grandparents ... and, perhaps, their great grandparents, to find a sweet treat.