Main Street Market opens in Athens

By Casey Krautkramer

Former Athens dairy farmer Brad Zettler is taking on a new venture after purchasing Athens IGA with his wife, Mary Lou. The Athens couple began operating the grocery store on Monday as Main Street Market.

Brad Zettler said they are dropping the IGA brand because IGA isn’t providing the grocery store with as many products as it has in the past. He said they will thus save money by not purchasing the IGA membership.

Brad and Mary Lou Zettler bought Athens IGA from John McCord, who had owned and operated the grocery store since 2000. McCord began his career at Athens IGA in 1979, working in the meat room with thenowner Jim Tessmer. McCord bought Athens IGA in 2000 from Jim and Mary Tessmer. This year marks McCord’s 45th anniversary as Athens IGA owner. McCord will continue working in the meat department for the new owners. His wife, Lisa McCord, is the aunt of new owner Brad Zettler.

John McCord is happy that he found an Athens couple to purchase the grocery store from him.

“Everything just fell into place,” he said on Monday at the grocery store.

Most of the Athens IGA employees are staying to work for the Zettlers at Main Street Market. Mary Lou Boehm, who was McCord’s right-hand grocery store manager, is celebrating her 50th anniversary this month working at Athens IGA.

Brad and Mary Lou Zettler live on a hobby farm in rural Athens with their four children who attend St. Anthony de Padua Catholic School in Athens: Eli, 13; Erika, 11, Emma, nine and Ethan, eight.

Customers will mainly see Brad on weekdays at Main Street Market because Mary Lou will keep working her full-time job at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. She grew up in Edgar with the maiden name Fahey.

The new owners are slightly adjusting the grocery store hours so they can spend a little extra time with their children at home. The new hours of operation are from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. until noon on Sundays.

ZETTLER FAMILY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THE ATHENS IGA - On Monday, Brad and Mary Lou Zettler of Athens began operating Main Street Market in downtown Athens. They purchased the Athens IGA from John McCord, who will remain working in the meat department at the grocery store. This year marks McCord’s 45th anninversary working at Athens IGA. Mary Lou Boehm, who was John McCord’s right-hand manager, is celebrating her 50th anniversary this month working at Athens IGA. Pictured, from left to right, are: Mary Lou Boehm, Jessica McCord, Lisa McCord, John McCord and Brad and Mary Lou Zettler with their four children Eli, Erika, Emma and Ethan Zettler.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER