BARRY’S BAY – “I started work for Charlie and Joan Kitts May 2, 1967 in what was a Red and White” said Carl Kuehl of the former Barry’s Bay Freshmart.
“I will have been there 50 years 4 months in September,” Kuehl said, “I’ve been through four owners.”
Don McCullough took over the Red and White from the Kitts in 1973 and then built a Super Save in 1975, which later turned into Valu-mart; all under the National Grocers (Loblaws) company. Dave and Jan Greenfield took over the store in 1994 and Derek Yuill arrived in 2009.
In all those 50 years Kuehl has served as a butcher, just like his parents, Aldean (Schleen) and Earl.
His parents ran Earl’s Meat Market, on Queen Street in Killaloe where they lived.
“My dad used to cut and wrap about a ton of meat a day,” Kuehl said, and his mother helped in the shop.
Kuehl would come home from working in Barry’s Bay and then cut pork for his father from 7 o’clock until midnight. His dad’s cooler would have a hundred quarters of beef hanging. Customers could rent freezer lockers for their meat as many did not have freezers in their homes.
For more pick up a copy of the August 30, 2017 paper.