Living Family Archive

Madison, Wisconsin

Stories set here

Learning the Business and Building StoresAt Iris and Bill’s suggestion, the narrator left Penney’s and learned the Ben Franklin business at Bob Retzlaff’s Madison store. He reports opening Bormann’s in 1983 as part owner and manager, with Bill Retzlaff cosigning his first loan, and five successful years of business. He also states that he sold out in 1972 to become manager and partner with Iris and Bill in Elliott’s in Janesville for eight years. These dates conflict and are retained as written. In 1988 he bought a Janesville Ben Franklin Store and converted it to an all-crafts store. He also served five years on Rock County Bank’s board, finding it especially interesting to learn who borrowed money for country club dues.

Events here

1983; did very well for five years
Opening Bormann’s
The narrator became part owner and manager of Bormann’s. Bill Retzlaff cosigned his first loan. The business made money and repaid the loans. The stated opening date conflicts with the stated 1972 sale.

Family corrections

Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.

No corrections on file for this record yet.

Suggest a correction