Iron Street in the city of Negaunee is pictured. The A&P Grocery Store was a popular place for locals to shop. (Photo courtesy of the Negaunee Historical Society)

NEGAUNEE — In the early years small grocery stores were located within blocks of each other all through town and grocery shopping could be done within walking distance.

When the A&P, a grocery chain store came to town with a large selection of food, many places closed their doors. The A&P was located on the corner of Iron Street and Pioneer Avenue. Everyone loved the Sara Parker bakery.

The Moose club rooms were upstairs. Those clubrooms became apartments. That corner originally was the Star Theater owned by Jafet Rytkonen.

Next door was a small restaurant owned by Henry Tavajarvi. It was sold to Orvo and Gloria Keni. It was named the Main Drift and was well known for good food and specializing in home cooking. An ad from the Iron Herald reads: “Men like to eat here. The men in town just naturally seem to come here for lunch and dinner. We’re an old fashioned place, serving old fashioned food at old fashioned prices. And brother that has plenty of masculine “come hither” for fine food at its best, served quickly, quietly, and pleasantly. Dine here today, you’ll make it a habit.”

The Main Drift also catered to the single miner by packing their lunch bucket. A favorite story of mine was when a family came into the museum and wanted to know something about a small restaurant and where could they find it. They had their dad with them who was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and they wanted to see if it brought back some memories.

I had to tell them that the restaurant was gone but I could show him a picture. As soon as he saw it, he said, “I met a pretty waitress there and she made my lunch.” It turned out she was the one he had married.

His children were excited. Mr. Keni was a native of Negaunee and his wife was from Ishpeming. Orvo was a veteran of World War ll and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the American Legion post and the Negaunee Elks. They had a son and a daughter.

Joe Barabe opened up his insurance office in the vacated Main Drift. Next door to the Main Drift was Mattson’s Grocery, owned by Selim Mattson. Selim was one of Negaunee’s oldest merchants. He operated his business for 37 years.

It was back in 1912 when Mr. Mattson entered into business. He saw business at its best and at its worst as the nation experienced its greatest years of prosperity and three major depressions. After operating his grocery business as a sole proprietor from 1912-1917, he formed a partnership with Sakari Lukkarinen which ended in 1926.

He later went into partnership with Frank Lehtonen which dissolved in 1936. Mr. Mattson found time to serve on the Negaunee School Board for 10 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Ahmed Temple Shrine and the Knights of the Kaleva and the Finnish Lutheran Church.

After Mattson’s retirement, the business was taken over by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Dorste Roos and continued to operate it as Mattson and Co. Mr. Roos served as icil Defense chairman, member of the Knights of Kaleva, Elks Lodge and Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Masonic Lodge.

He served in the Army during World War ll with overseas duty. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Dorste Roos was active in Scouts and was district chairman of the Pere Marquette district.

Mattson’s store became the Hillbilly Restaurant owned by Richard and Lydia Sexton.

Going down the street is Tony’s Bar, owned by Tony Paris. Perala Hardware was owned by John Perala. That whole block was razed except for the A&P corner and it made a whole new look as it became known as the Negaunee Mall.

The new business people were Wayne Merick operating Merricks, which sold everything from pins to clothing. John Savolainen operated a sports shop. Now 1844, Laura Romback had a hair salon and a Christian bookstore. Shelly had a flower shop and upstairs was the Brass check restaurant operated by John Ennett.

The name changed to Negaunee Center. The building has been home to a daycare, St. Vincent food pantry, a center for gymnastics and there could be other changes. That’s what makes history.