Burnstad’s Market, popular Spencer store, sold

Spencer’s only grocery store has been sold.

Gordy’s Market will assume control of Burnstad’s Market Grocery Store in late April.

The store will close the evening of April 24 and re-open April 28 as Gordy’s Market, with a new pricing structure, said Dave Schafer, vice-president of finance at Gordy’s Market.

“There will be some new products and freezer display cases,” Schafer said.

Gordy’s will retain the current employees and honor their seniority and benefits accumulated under their contracts with Burnstad’s, Schafer said.

Besides Spencer, Gordy’s Market has agreed to buy the Burnstad’s stores in Black River Falls, Richland Center and Tomah, he said.

The Spencer store has 26 employees, said Andy Cveykus, store manager.

“This is exciting. Both companies operate under the same principle — good family-owned companies,” Cveykus said.

Gordy’s purchased the stores from the Burnstad Family.

“We are excited to open our newest store locations in and to expand our reach into central Wisconsin,” said Jeff Schafer, president of Gordy’s, who also is Dave Schafer’s brother. “We look forward to offering an excellent variety of fresh products, low prices and family-friendly services; the standards in which our family-owned business was founded on.”

A statement from Derek Burnstad, vice president of Burnstad Bros. Inc, was included in the information announcing the sale Friday:

“This is very bittersweet for the entire Burnstad Family; as we are sad to step away from the business we have grown to love since 1944. However, we are excited for the four locations to be getting a class act, family owned company with Gordy’s Market. The communities of Black River Falls, Richland Center, Spencer, and Tomah will be in good hands with Gordy’s Market as we share so many of the same business principles. The past 70 years have been a lot of fun and we owe that to all of the wonderful guests and associates who have supported us over those years,” Burnstad said in a news release.

Gordy Schafer opened his first grocery store in Chippewa Falls in 1966. Gordy's has been a family owned and operated business ever since, according to the news release. The family operates 16 Gordy’s grocery stores, and 11 Gordy’s Express gas stations. Combined, Gordy's employs more than 1,600 people throughout west central Wisconsin.

Burnstad’s is a Tomah-based grocery store chain founded in 1944. The company bought the Spencer SuperValu after it closed in December 2011. It re-opened in April 2012 as Burnstad’s.

Reporter Liz Welter can be reached at 715-384-3131. Find her on Twitter as@welter_liz.