Romig’s celebrates 85 years in Gilman

Romig’s Inc. began doing business in its present location in April 1938. Glenn Romig and his wife, Lola relocated their hardware store to Gilman from Augusta, Wisconsin in April 1938. Glenn and Marie operated the business together as Marie was the bookkeeper and Glenn ran the store.

Glenn’s first supplier of hardware goods was Marshall-Wells stores from Duluth, Minnesota. In 1952 Romig’s started buying from a new supplier-United Hardware Distributing Company-Hardware Hank. Romig’s was the 3rd Hardware Hank store in Wisconsin. In 1952, Glenn purchased the Bill George Drug Store. This store included numerous items but also a soda fountain. The store would now be named Romig’s Hardware and Variety. The soda fountain still remains today serving 8 types of ice cream every day. Many customers come back to bring their children and grandchildren to have treats at the soda fountain for malts, shakes, cones, and sundaes. Coffee is also served along with tea, hot chocolate and canned soda. In the morning the coffee counter is filled with men discussing the weather and other topics.

Ted became the store manager in 1952 and Darrell began working full-time in the family business in 1956. Ted’s wife Doris, and Darrell’s wife Barb, started working in the store in 1959. In 1970, Ted and Darrell began building homes. In 1980, they started municipal contracting, installing water and sewer mains, city lift stations and city well pump houses.

Fred Romig came to work full time in 1979 and is now a master plumber. Cheryl Romig began working in 2004 and became manager. In 2004, Derrick Romig came to work full time as a plumber and the HVAC person.

Ted, Doris, and Barb have all passed on. Darrell who is 87 years old still comes to work 6 days a week.

Completing the work crew are Darrell Romig, Fred Romig, Cheryl Romig, Derrick Romig, Lynn Skabroud, Tonia Gereau, Dawn Romig, Scott Capelle, Scott Newman, and Cam Scott. We also have Derrick and Dawn’s children, Rayanna who is 13, Cayden who is 12, and Ethan Romig is 7, the fifth generation of the business, who help at the store whether it be answering the phone, showing customers where the merchandise is located or helping unload the weekly semi truck.

Romig’s Hardware Hank store sells almost anything you can imagine from appliances, hunting and fishing supplies, farming goods, household goods, paint, automotive, gifts, cards and toys. They also do services of heating, plumbing, central air conditioning, and septic systems.