The new store at 2120 Industrial Road, north of I-35 near Staples, was supposed to be open this summer, but the company delayed its opening until the fall.
The new store, which is 5,756 square feet and can seat 86 guests, is the largest version of Braum’s. There will be a total of 65 full and part-time employees at the store. A job fair was held Monday to fill some positions.
The existing Braum’s store at 1028 W. Sixth will still be open.
“Emporia is really where it all started and the family is so excited to build a second store there,” said Drew Braum, Braum’s president and CEO.
The company got its start in Emporia in 1953 when the Kraft Food company decided to stop making cheese in town. Henry Braum of Meadowbrook Ice Cream bought the vacated factory and changed the name to the Braum Ice Cream Co.
“We have a lot of history in Emporia,” Braum said. “From my grandfather’s small butter wholesale company, to the Peter Pan retail stores, and now to Braum’s, the folks in Emporia have always been so supportive.”
The company was eventually sold to the Steffen Dairy Food Co. of Wichita in 1967, after which the family continued to make its products in Emporia to be marketed in Oklahoma. The products could not be sold in Kansas because of a 10-year non-compete agreement between Braum’s and Steffen’s.
In 1976, the family completely moved its operations to Oklahoma though Braum’s stores continued to migrate north. There are now more than 280 Braum’s in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.
The new store will look different than the 6th Avenue version. Braum’s has a new store design, which they are calling a W model. The store will have open beamed ceilings, pendant lighting and multi-colored tables and booths. The big difference is with the grocery part of the store.
“We wanted the Fresh Market to be large enough to accommodate all the products that we offer from our full lines of dairy and bakery to fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. We also wanted it to be customer friendly, so we added double check out counters, automatic doors, and wider aisles,” Braum said.
The store will be open seven days a week. Braum’s store hours are from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
This store will add new sales tax to the Emporia economy. The traffic count coming through Emporia is 4 million and if there is 2.5 people per car, truck or bus-that's 10 million folks. I only wish we would have let the Braum's Company put up a sign to attract customers off the highway about 12 years ago--just think of the sales taxes we have lost because, we wanted to be sophisticated like Johnson County.
August 27, 2010 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gg (anonymous) says...
Yes, and now our "infamous" elites that run Emporia for their personal profit/pleasure are chasing Fanestil's out of the city/county.
The madness of this blows my mind.
August 27, 2010 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
gg the "infamous" elites just can't bring home the bacon.
August 27, 2010 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
You idiots
August 27, 2010 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
One word ................. flantermagtasticaliciousness!
August 27, 2010 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I can remember when I was 5 years old, my mom and dad would take us to the Braum's ice creame store down on south commerical and I remember the girls would come out of the building and take our order. Mr braum was way ahead of his time in1949.
August 27, 2010 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
The Mary Poppins new ice creame line and you heard it first at the reddog blog. What a marketing idea.
August 27, 2010 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
The "reddog blog?"
I told you people there are some hallucinations going on. They are apparently very narcissistic ones as well.
Yay for two Braum's!!!!
August 27, 2010 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
knute (anonymous) says...
Kudos to Braum's for a new store and for keeping the other one open as well.
As for Fanestil Meats, gg, I heard that they are moving, [as in it's a done deal,] lock, stock and barrel to Lebo.
"reddog blog" Heh heh heh heh. I love it.
This new Mary Poppins line isn't going to make me want to dance on rooftops, is it? 'Cause I'm scared of heights.
August 27, 2010 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
Article in the Coffey County paper about Fanestils. It made it soumd like a done deal. Also said its 4.1 million dollar factory would employ 40 people.
August 27, 2010 at 6:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Well we gain a few jobs with Braums and lose a few jobs with Fanestil. The good news is we don't have to pay a ton of money to keep fanestil.
August 27, 2010 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
IRISH, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR POSITIVE ATTITUDE
It is a good counter to my negative.
I just can't wait for that new retail store at Lebo. My journey to Coffey county to buy party time hams or some delicious baked beans. Will have to allow for some time to first go to BETO junction to have lunch and get a couple of those huge cinnamon rolls. that small sales tax revenue loss won't effect the Shop Emporia First people at all.
And you are correct, it won't hurt the county tax rolls to lose a building valued at a 1/2 million in order to have some "Green Space"
It's "PARTY TIME" in Lebo.
August 27, 2010 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truckerswife (anonymous) says...
And Steve, we are going to love having you AND Fanestils coming to our neighborhood!!!!!!
August 27, 2010 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Why thank you.
Beautiful country you have there. And right friendly folks too.
August 27, 2010 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
It all adds up to this--Emporia get's creamed and Lebo gets the bacon.
August 27, 2010 at 10:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
"Well we gain a few jobs with Braums and lose a few jobs with Fanestil. "
What's Braum's pay? Minimum wage or a few cents more, maybe. I guarantee Fanestil pays quite a bit more plus benefits. Ignorance abounds. Places like Braum's do provide jobs but they aren't "living wage" jobs. Factories provide jobs that pay a living wage and you can work your way up to a pretty decent living. This is something that upper crust people and wannabes just don't get or don't care about. If you want people spending more here and paying more taxes here, wouldn't you want more of the better paying jobs for the average Joes and Jills to have so they have more money to spend and pay more taxes? It just makes sense to me but then again I'm just an average folk.
I personally don't want to be in the service industry because:
1. I couldn't feed my family on what it pays and my family has become accustomed to eating
B. I've been out of high school for two decades! I stopped working fast food a long time ago!
iii- I'm not really that cheery of person and so I would not make the best servant
Four- The bank will not let me stop paying for my house and continue to live in it just because the only job available is Braum's cashier dude that makes minimum wage.
"Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's goin' on in da hood."- Ice Cube
August 27, 2010 at 11:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
So I stand corrected. Braum's is not gonna replace Fanestil. But it is jobs, albeit more for our teens, perhaps.
August 28, 2010 at 2:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
People that travel like ice creame and clean restrooms--Braum's will be our temporary tourist center.
August 28, 2010 at 4:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Excellent points, seriously, especially on what the service industry pays.
This is why I can't understand why Zimmerman continues to make trips out of town in order to schmooze fast food joints to come to Emporia.
Is there some kind of plan to all this? As long as we can keep teens working, they can buy more used cars?
Something is really screwed up somewhere.
The reddog blog? More like the reddog fog.
August 28, 2010 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
The Reddog Blog is kind of like Allen Field House--Watch out for the Fog.....An older friend of mine told me that he felt bad that one of his college classmates went to work for McDonalds and was flipping hamburgers. At their 10 year reunion, the owner let his friend have ownership in 4 McDonalds in California. No matter what business you are in, you can excel to management or use the experience in other vocations.
August 28, 2010 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Don't ever demean anyone of their job, there is not one person that you can't learn something from. No matter what job you have, be the best.
August 28, 2010 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
I think Zimmerman aught to take a trip to Milwaukee and have a talk with Harley chief executive Keith Wandell. Having Harley Davidson Motorcycles manufactured here in the Home of Veteran's Day would be a win win for both Harley Davidson and Emporia, KS. An additional 1,630 manufacturing jobs in Emporia, KS would help the fast food joints Zimmerman loves so well. It would boost the housing sector of our town as well. They better get on the ball quickly though because Mr. Wandell will make his decision in the next two months.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70...
August 28, 2010 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
REWBA,
Instead of mr. Zimmerman, how about a Harley riding veteran? Ever met Zimmy? He should not be the one selling this city.
August 28, 2010 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
No, I've never met him but for the amount of money you all pay him I figured he had to have some pretty big cajones. If he is all shriveled up, why do you continue paying him? Emporia could hand the keys to the city over to Keith Wandell and give him Zimmermans office and secretary as well.
August 28, 2010 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
That brings up another question. Does Mr Zimmerman have a DD Form 214? I mean the Official Home of Veterans Day should be managed by a Veteran. IMHO
August 28, 2010 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
REWBA,
You mentioned "cajones". I'm not sure to what you mean. Does he have big wooden drawers?
In US slang, cojones denotes “brazen, brave attitude”, pronounced /kəˈhoʊneɪz/ and /kəˈhuːnəz/ in English. Contextually, its usage is like that of the Yiddish chutzpah (nerve), the French couilles (gonads) and the Finnish sisu (perseverance).
A common euphemistic misspelling of cojones is cajones (furniture “drawers” and "wooden box drums", see cajón).
Or did you mean "cojones" ?
August 28, 2010 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
REWBA I'm just laughing with you . I was looking to post a link to ac/dc song big balls and found one with sponge bob singing it that was a hoot. Didn't post the link to youtube, I was afraid someone would take offense.
August 28, 2010 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
I just love gala events! We should host a couple big balls here in Emporia. It might attract tourists looking for fun. Maybe we could get AC/DC to perform at the event.
I know what your thinking. Other towns have big balls. But we could have the biggest balls of them all! lol
August 28, 2010 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I heard Zimmerman tell the developers from Lowe's that they would be hearing some negative comments from Emporia Rednecks. Guess what, the other day I saw him driving a pickup truck and now I guess in his mind, he's one of the boys....Anytime government get's involved with retail expansion, the projects seemed to go where the politicians and bureaucrats want it to go instead of the people. I would like to see where his job description says that he is the one to lead the charge on retail development.
August 28, 2010 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Wonder if that truck is titled to him or the city, or maybe a lease to the city? Just wondering?
August 28, 2010 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
Be careful reddog, lets remember that you tried to shove a dog into that race for the Lowe's too.. no sour grapes now.
August 28, 2010 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Fanestil was looking at the Thomas tract and the next thing that happens is the RDA increases the wages for new industry to 30,000 at a time of high unemployment. I play to win and the game is never over with me. Quack, be careful or I will expose the whole economic angeloda. Have a nice day and God bless.
August 28, 2010 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
An Angeloda is a cross between Zimmerman and the RDA......a streak of .............
August 28, 2010 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Time to try some Italian, sounds sooooooo good.
August 28, 2010 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Chef Boyardee?
August 28, 2010 at 6:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Well, now you did it. You went and talked about big balls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQk9Ay...
Steve, do you mean at the new Italian place? If so, let me know how you like it. We're trying it tomorrow after the movie at the Granada.
But first:
http://abc.go.com/watch/wipeout/SH556...
August 28, 2010 at 6:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Yeah, Reddog, cause RDA's mission is to keep out or kick out business and industry. We don't need growth...
August 28, 2010 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
reddog, why threaten, just tell us everything... if it is factual, can it hurt you? I wonder, do we seem to grasp that the RDA is the REGIONAL Development Association? Not the Emporia/Lyon County Development Association, or the reddog development association. Maybe the answer would be to get rid of a regional outlook, and go to a more focused, local outlook, If Chase County, or Coffey County are in the RDA, then isn't the RDA doing it's job keeping Fanestil in one of the member counties, and not just Lyon County? Should we be asking what the boundaries of the R in RDA are? Maybe it is just Emporia and Lyon County, seems a small region though.
August 28, 2010 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I don't think thr RDA had anything to do with Fanestil going to Lebo,but if I am wrong the RDA needs to make a public announcement. As far as the new bio-desil plant in Strong City is concerned, the RDA turned them down in favor of the loser bio-desil plant in Emporia and the owner has never said to me that the RDA was helping on the project in Strong City. Quack your on the RDA board, why has the RDA not told the public that the bio-desil plant will never happen according to my sourses. One final note when the RDA goes to Las Vegas, they need to remember that they are there on business. It GOT BACK TO ME THAT EVERYTIME YOU ALL WERE SEEN BY EMPORIANS--YOU WERE ALL BOOZED UP.
August 29, 2010 at 12:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
jUST TELL THE PUBLIC ONE TIME THAT THE RDA HAS HELPED CHASE OR COFFEE COUNTY.
August 29, 2010 at 12:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
As a matter of fact, I wrote a reddog blog saying we need to do more in helping the region. I just can't point to anything other than moral support.
August 29, 2010 at 12:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Is it legal to spend the economic sales tax in Chase and Coffee Counties?
August 29, 2010 at 1:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
reddog If you don't like Italian, why not try Chinese?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW0Rc-...
August 29, 2010 at 1:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Seriouslyfolks and oh4theluvof,
four of us went last night to the new Italian place. After hearing just about all good on the place, we finally got to try it and we will go back. Had the garlic bread with cheese and mozzies sticks for appitisers, good start. The spaghetti with the works was tried by two of us. One tried the chicken Siciliano, (you have to like caperrs and artichoke hearts).. I couldn't make up my mind so I ordered both the shrimp scampi and shrimp alfredo. None of us had a salad, but they looked good on the other tables.
3 of us had enough left over for lunch today. The strawberry cheescake was inhaled and my tiramisu was excellent,( you have to like expresso or coffee to try it) Some people used to 4.99 meals may find them pricey, but we thought prices were good. Service was excellent ! But I don't think our waiter had ever seen a 20% tip before
.
The only downside was
1. No wine.
2. The Celine Dion / Pavarotti duet was a little loud , (maybe they should move the speakers over to where the cash register is.
We give the a score of 8 out of 10.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
August 29, 2010 at 7:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
So it's similar to Chef Boyardee?
August 29, 2010 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Thanks Steve, but I really hope that if seriouslyfolks tries it that it isn't when I'm there with my date. I don't know if you've noticed this, but he's a liiiittttle obnoxious. ☺
August 29, 2010 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
LOL.,
Seriously, if you like Chef Boyardee, you should really like this place. Food is a whole lot better.
August 29, 2010 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Just a little obnoxious?
August 29, 2010 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Now I'm offended! Chef Boyardee is not obnoxious!
August 29, 2010 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
REWBA
The problem with the Zim's salary is, we the taxpayers have absolutely no say " whatsoever " in what he gets paid. The amount he gets paid is up to him, how much he " schmoozes " ( kisses the Emporia Power elite of Emporia's As_es " and what the City commission of Emporia is told by the Power elite of Emporia to pay the " Pin Head, Zim " .
Besides you have to pay the City Manager enough so he can drive a " Jag " , buy a new house and so his wife won' t have to work at Walmart .
Also you must remember the " Zim man " also will have to pay whatever increase there will be in taxes !!!!! Which he will have had a hand in increasing, by way of poor budget management and decisions.
As if I couldn' t live quite comfortably on between $160,000 and $200,000 per year.
I wonder just how much of the $125,739 merit pay raise on the 2011 City Budget will be for the " Zim mans " increase in pay ?
So you see REWBA, the average taxpaying citizen of Emporia, has absolutely nothing to say about what is done or approved by the so called " Leadership " of Emporia. Never has been and most likely, Never will be !
Ain' t life in the Kingdom of " Euphormia " wonderful ....
August 30, 2010 at 6:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Ok I will run for a city commish spot. I agree to do the will of the voters. If voters want the bigger slashed that is what my mission will be. How many votes will I get? 3 or 4? Lol
August 30, 2010 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
Wow! Are you saying he is paid a six digit figure to manage a town with a population of 30,000 rednecks and country bumpkins? The only bonus I could think of for the man who has everything is a broken jar of shad sides every morning. You know that smell? Nothing else in this world smells like that. It smells like...victory!
August 30, 2010 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Zimmerman don't surf.
August 31, 2010 at 6:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
Is his name Charlie too? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRyRnp...
August 31, 2010 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
LOL. Good ones Matt and REWBA.
OMG, do I have a weird sense of humor or am I just damned?
August 31, 2010 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )