WEST BEND, WI — John McGivern is coming back to town, and this time, he’s bringing Emmy, Lois, and about 28 minutes of small-town charm with him.
John McGivern’s Main Streets is returning to West Bend; a place McGivern swears looks so different than the last time he rolled through. “I mean, it looks so different with the marquee lit and now it’s a full-contact sport just to get a parking spot on Main Street,” McGivern said. “Three days in a row, we were like, ‘Hurry! There’s a space over there —go, go, go!’”
McGivern will take the stage tonight to delight, amuse, and possibly overshare. “I’ll talk for a minute,” he said, “then I’ll bring Lois up, and then Emmy, and then we’ll talk about making the episode and take some questions.”
Emmy, for the record, is now the show’s official “doer of all things John refuses to do.”
“She’s game for anything,” McGivern said, “and Lois is thrilled because otherwise it’d be her, and I’m just like, ‘No, I ain’t doing that.’”
For those who remember Around the Corner with John McGivern, don’t worry — this isn’t a rerun McGivern assured. “We didn’t just dust off the old footage and slap a new intro on it. No, we came back and filmed all new stuff — we even approached the Museum of Wisconsin Art from the garden this time. That’s growth. Literally.”
In addition to unveiling West Bend’s episode, McGivern said he will talk about the number of interviews per town, the bloopers and outtakes and the fact they are all still having fun.
“I will see you there — but seriously, get there early if you want parking.”
The West Bend episode of John McGivern’s Main Streets will air Thursday, April 24 on PBS.
April 21, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – Prepping for a 9 a.m. interview today with John McGivern. He will be in West Bend, Wi, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, to promote his latest John McGivern’s Main Streets which will debut on PBS this Thursday. McGivern, Emmy, Lois and the crew were in West Bend, Wi, in the summer of 2024 shooting the episode. If you send a question my way… I’ll ask John this morning. Then pop out to see him Tuesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and
and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the West Bend Theater, 125 N. Main Street.
Do you remember the last time McGivern was here? He does… and remember he presided over the premiere at MOWA.
Below is a previous story from when the Main Streets team was in town in 2024.
West Bend, WI – John McGivern and his team from John McGivern’s Main Streets visited a number of businesses in West Bend, WI, this week including The Beat Goes On, formerly The Exclusive Company. Check out the behind-the-scenes video including a segment that will appear in the April 2025 episode.
Joe Zaremba is the owner of The Beat Goes on with his wife Mary. Below is a look back at the evolution of the store formerly known as The Exclusive Company.
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There’s a lot of history behind one of the landmark businesses on N. Main Street in downtown West Bend, WI. Believe it or not The Exclusive Company had a couple name variations, locations, and specialty services as it blossomed downtown.
In 1959 the Tel-a-City Directory listed The Exclusive Record-Shop at 146 N. Main Street. The phone number was listed as FE 4-7101.
Other local businesses in that era included City Bakery, Bob Boltz Photographer, Peters Resort, Koth’s Motel, and Meyer’s Cigar & Newsstand at 219 S. Main Street.
Jack Bandy recalls the original Exclusive store at the southwest corner of where Elm Street once intersected Main Street. Bandy said the store “not only sold Magnavox (Philips) hifis, but it was THE record shop in West Bend.”
Dennis Benn was a longtime manager at The Exclusive Co. Often described as “a West Bend legend.” Benn impressed many patrons with his easy-going demeanor, knowledge of music, and his ability to mimic an oncoming train.
Bob Bonenfant, a local radio icon, said his favorite memories of the Exclusive Co. involved Maxwell Street Day. “Back in the day we actually had a Maxwell Street Day,” said Bonenfant. “I was doing mornings at WBKV/WBWI and couldn’t wait to rush downtown to see what reduced-price treasures I could find. Tables upon tables of promos, cutouts and used albums. I was in heaven. I also could count on Dennis special ordering quite a few 12” disco-discs when I was DJing at 2-G’s Disco in Barton. He would often say “Bonenfant, you sure order some odd stuff.” Dennis was a rocker/blues dude. Not much into dance music. You could count on the lowest prices in the area. I also liked to talk music with Dennis and, later, Jesse. Exclusive was a fond part of growing up in the West Bend area.”
In the 1960 telephone directory Exclusive Record Marts was listed alongside Plischounig’s Shop, 103 S. Main Street. Under the Exclusive it read, “See-High Fidelity Sound Equipment.”
It was 1966 when The Exclusive Co. moved from 146 N. Main Street to 156 N. Main Street.
Another record store in the era prior to The Exclusive Co. was Plischounig’s Gift Shop.
Exclusive Company lists itself as America’s Oldest Full-line Independent Record Store
The founder of The Exclusive Co., James “Mr. G” Giombetti died Nov. 13, 2021.
This story was done in cooperation with You Know You are from West Bend if…