Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
JAEGER-KUNNERT COMPANY
JAEGER-KUNNERT COMPANY. Jaeger-Kunnert was founded in August, 1911 at Fourth and Iowa STREETS by Frederick J. KUNNERT, a German immigrant who started in the grocery business by working for John T. HANCOCK, a wholesale grocer in Dubuque. (1) Kunnert's partner was Oscar Jaeger, who for health reasons, had to retire in 1927 and was bought out by Kunnert. (2)
The 1913 Dubuque and Dubuque County Directory and 1915 Dubuque City Directory stated that this business including wholesale grocery was located at 402 Iowa.
The 1922 Dubuque Telephone Directory listed 4th and Iowa.
The 1937 Dubuque Consurvey Directory through 1962 Dubuque City Directory listed 850 Jackson.
The 1968 through 1974 Dubuque City Directory listed 100 E. 7th St.
Jaeger-Kunnert, a wholesale grocer, gained local publicity in the 1920s by being the first of three wholesale grocers to offer NUCOA margarine and Blue Ribbon Malt Liquor. NUCOA, for those who could not afford butter, came with a coloring bean in the package. Customers could knead the bean into the margarine to color it yellow like butter. (3)
In June, 1974 the close-out sale of the business was opened to the public. The warehouse had $450,000 worth of groceries and frozen food. By August the inventory had been reduced to $70,000 which was expected to be sold by the end of the month. (4)
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Source:
1. "63 Years of Service Ending," Telegraph-Herald, August 11, 1974, p. 19
2. "Death Claims F. J. Kunnert," Telegraph-Herald, June 5, 1941, p. 1
3. "63 Years..."
4. Ibid.
Susan McKeever
Telegraph Herald, Aug. 11, 1974, p. 11