Ma & Pa's: Where Will Wisconsinites Go For Lottery Tickets?

As many around the state may have heard, one of my hometown's icons Ma & Pa's Grocery Express is closing it's doors. Many may not know it by name, but know it as the place where every TV station in Green Bay and Milwaukee venture to every time the Powerball jackpot gets above $200 Million because of the plethora of winning tickets that have been sold there in the last 20 years. Here is the write-up from the FDL Reporter:  http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20120628/FON0101/120627117/Announcement-Ma-Pa-s-closing-brings-surprise-sadness?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE *(Be advised, any attempt at journalism should always be suspect as this paper has been going downhill since my Great-Grandfather died in 1963.)

For those of you who are from outside of town, Ma & Pa's was owned by a local family with deep FDL roots and a history of owning small grocery stores back to the 1950's. In 2010 they sold their interests in the main store to a new owner, and quite honestly, the store was never the same after that. Rumors swirled around town about how the new owner claimed many of the long time clerks were "grossly overpaid" and the atmosphere of the "local place" suffered. Throw in the fact that a block away Kwik Trip decided to renovate and remake their store, and you can see how this might happen.

I don't know the owner, but can say that everyone in town is pretty shocked at the fact that this happened. It was a cultural icon that was still doing business as usual until last week as vendors brought in product, people bought gas, and even I bought a sandwich for lunch there this past Tuesday completely unaware that would be the last day of selling gas and lottery tickets.

From WBAY 2 in Green Bay:

Famed Ma & Pa's on Miracle Mile Closing