Feb. 11, 2017 – West Bend, WI – The closing was Friday on the former Goodyear building, 303 Water Street. Kevin and Amy Zimmer purchased the building in December 2015 and over the past year completed a considerable amount of rehab.
“Besides a new roof we filled in the front basement area with 50 loads from West Bend Gravel,” said Kevin Zimmer in an April 2016 article.
The 4,000 square foot east building was constructed around the 1950’s and the west building, added on some 30 years later, is about 2,000 square feet.
“It’s just exciting to be further involved with all the great things that are happening in our historic downtown West Bend,” said Kevin Zimmer.
Records in the city assessor’s office show Robert and Mary Kuester and John and Grace Kuester sold the property to Harley and Alice Koehler on Dec. 9, 1970. Many folks in the community will remember that corner lot as a Goodyear station. At one time it was also home to a furniture and restoration shop, colorfully called ‘The Male Stripper.’
Here is an article from Around the Bend in Dec. 2007.
It was an early exit for The Male Stripper, otherwise known as Main Street Antiques, as owner Mike Hansen closed his shop at 303 Water Street. During an interview in June, Hansen said he was closing to start a new full time job. The Male Stripper has been in business in West Bend for 23 years. The furniture refinishing and antique shop moved into the old Goodyear building on Water Street about five years ago, after spending nearly 20 years at South Main Street in the cream city brick building which currently houses The Apple Barrel. “I think I saved a lot of our history and I’m proud of that,” said Hansen about the pieces restored over the years. However, a changing market and growing competition on the Internet made things difficult for Hansen who emptied his shop in November, one month before his lease expired.
Harley Koehler sold the Good year Tire business to Ron and Brenda Spaeth and the Spaeth’s operated the Goodyear Tire and Service business in the building on Water Street until they moved the business to a new building near Paradise Drive, the site of the present Goodyear business. The Spaeths sold the West Bend Goodyear business near Paradise Drive about ten years ago and but still have a Goodyear business in Mayville.