You may have noticed some shuffling around of a few of Annandale’s Main Street businesses.
A relatively new business – Grey Duck Screen Printing – is moving into the space occupied by State Farm Insurance; State Farm has moved to the building formerly occupied by Zahler Photography; Zahler has moved next door to space occupied by Bergesch Computer Services, who has moved back to the home of owner Steve Bergesch.
Grey Duck
Grey Duck Screen Printing and Apparel is a store that specializes in screen printed T-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel for sports teams, businesses, charities and fundraisers.
The store is owned by Kindra and Jerry Liebhard who have lived in Annandale for the past 16 years. The Liebhards bought a hobby farm six years ago (some may know it as the Sook or Latour farm) located south of Annandale on County Road 5. The farm is celebrating its 100th year in 2018.
The Liebhards have three children – Anna 15, Jake 13, and Reece 10.
The business’ history goes back to Gusto Graphics an Annandale-South Haven firm that Kris Nelson purchased in 2012. Nelson changed the name to Kris’ Screen Printing and was operated out of her home in South Haven.
In 2016 Nelson sold her business to Mark Wurzburger, who changed the name to American Pride Screen Printing and opened a storefront at 93 Oak Ave. S (the Mega Mall building, at the corner of Main Street and Highway 55).
The business was sold once again and the name changed to All About You Screen Printing.
The Liebhards bought the business in November 2017 and temporarily kept the name.
"But with our new location we decided to change the name to Grey Duck Screen Printing and Apparel," Kindra said. "We are really excited for this new move and look forward to being a part of Main Street."
Kindra expects the entire family to get involved in the business.
"Everyone in the house has shown some interest in the business and Anna our oldest, will probably help out a lot in the store," Kindra said.
The Liebhards had thought about having a spot on Annandale’s main street for some time.
"We wanted to increase business and better serve the customers," Kindra said. "We have been friends with David Burd and when he mentioned he was moving State Farm to the Zahler building to us, we thought it would be a great opportunity."
The Liebhards started moving into the State Farm building on Saturday, June 30. Since then the Liebhard family has been busy preparing the building to open soon.
"So far we have done some painting and wiring for the equipment and water," Kindra said.
Once they are up and running, Grey Duck Screen Printing and Apparel are planning to be open Tuesday to Friday 9 to 5 and Saturdays 9 to 3.
"Being in the store full time will certainly make it easier to meet customers and help with pick ups and drop offs," Liebhard said. "We are looking forward to more foot traffic with the new store front and we are having a website built for added ordering purposes."
The building Grey Duck Screen Printing now occupies was built by Virgil Johnson, a barber.
Larry Miller, the State Farm agent prior to Burd, bought the building from Johnson in 1978. Miller had previously worked out of his home.
State Farm
David Burd moved his State Farm Insurance Agency at 66 Oak Ave. N to the Zahler building at 10 Oak Ave. S on Friday, June 29.
"Dan (Zahler) was thinking of moving as he did not need the space anymore," Burd said. "He approached me to see if I would be interested in his building."
Burd was not immediately ready to buy the building, but he was certainly interested.
"Since coming to Annandale I loved the building’s character, history and corner location on main street," Burd said.
Burd started thinking about moving the business about a year ago he thought the business needed a bigger space.
"We had no break room, storage room and only one enclosed office at the old location," Burd said. "The corner location will give us better visibility and now we can serve our customers with improved privacy."
"When the Liebhards asked about renting or buying my building, Dan (Zahler) and I moved forward," Burd said. "Selling my building allowed me to make the move to the new location."
Since moving to the Zahler building Burd has made some changes.
"We removed the two dressing rooms, added three enclosed offices and a handicap accessible bathroom in the area that used to be the portrait studio," Burd said.
Burd is not sure what he is going to do about a sign yet. There is a temporary sign up on the building.
"I’m not sure about the sign yet," Burd said. "I am researching options with the city codes and the upcoming changes due to the MnDOT road project is also something to consider."
Burd was asked how the insurance business has changed over the years.
In today’s world is insurance still a growing business?
"It has become more competitive as more financial institutions and others have entered the insurance market," Burd said. "Also, some customers want to conduct business online, so we have built out a platform to serve our customers 24-7 in whatever capacity they choose.
"Many people, though, still prefer to do business in-person and we have a friendly, professional team consisting of Jess Lipponen, Amanda Stuckey and Brooke Williams who do a wonderful job."
Burd, 53, grew up in Moorhead. He attended Luther College and graduated from Concordia in Moorhead with a business and English major. In 1992 Burd graduated from William Mitchel Law School with a J.D.
Burd has been Annandale’s State Farm Agent since July, 2006. Prior to coming to Annandale in 2006 Burd was in the resort business in Detroit Lakes.
Burd lives in Southside Township with his two children Nels and Josie, both Annandale High School students.
"They have enjoyed the Annandale schools and all of the activities offered by the school," Burd said. "I am proud to be their dad."
Burd has been very active in the Annandale community. He served for six years on the Annandale City Council and is currently on the Annandale Chamber of Commerce Board, the Youth First Board and the Church Council. He has coached multiple youth sports, taught religion classes, is a member of Kiwanis, and each year volunteers at the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon.
Zahler Photography
Upon selling his building to Burd, Dan Zahler moved Zahler Photography to the building directly in back of his (25 Chestnut St. W) that was occupied by Steve Bergesch’s Bergesch Computer Services. Bergesch sold Zahler the building in 2017.
Zahler, 51 grew up in Rogers and graduated from Elk River High School.
Zahler and his wife Sandy live in Silver Lake where they have raised three children, Sarah, Anna and Steven.
For 30 years, Zahler has had his photography business in Annandale. The former bank building on the southwest corner of Oak and Chestnut had previously been a Radio Shack. He bought the building from John Bishop.
Zahler’s business is almost exclusively taking school and sports pictures. At the present time he has accounts with 35 school districts and does many youth sports pictures in the area.
"I have been doing school pictures for 16 years," Zahler said. "I have never lost one of my school accounts."
He only does wedding or portrait pictures for friends and family.
"The school pictures keep us busy year-around," Zahler said. "The actual taking of the pictures is only about 25 percent of the work."
Things will really get busy for Zahler about the middle of August.
"It will be 24-7 from then till Christmas," Zahler said. "We will be printing 30,000 order forms for our school accounts.
"We are pretty much maxed out."
Zahler has done a very nice job decorating the space he now occupies, with new carpeting, cabinets and a warm color scheme.
Bergesch Computer
Services
Steve Bergesch moved into the space now occupied by Zahler in 2001. Previous to that it was a sideline business, operated out of his home.
Bergesch recently decided he wanted to move the business back home.
"It was for various financial and personal reasons," Bergesch said. "The retail end of the business has been tapering down for some years, so there was no reason to have a store front anymore.
"I was at customer locations more than I was at the office anyway."
Bergesch’s company offers computer and related repairs and services for business and individual users.
Former bank building
Prior to 1933 there were two banks in Annandale. The State Bank of Annandale began in 1893 by founders William D. McDonald and L. Cofield. The bank was located in the current Advocate office.
The other bank was the Citizens State Bank of Annandale, opened in 1907. It was located in the building currently occupied by Dr. Bruce Karg. (18 Oak Ave N)
In 1920 the State Bank of Annandale put up the building currently occupied by Young and Brown. To do so they had to clear out a house and doctor’s office, the office and residence of Dr. Wooster, predecessor to Dr. Bendix.
In 1923 the Citizens State Bank built a new building on the corner of Chestnut and Oak, the building currently occupied by State Farm Insurance.
In 1933 the State Bank of Annandale and the Citizens Bank of Annandale merged to become the Annandale State Bank.
In 1980 the Annandale State Bank built a new building at 40 Chestnut Street.
The old bank was occupied by a Radio Shack store from 1983 to 1988, Zahler Photography took it over in 1988 and is now the home of State Farm Insurance.
Note: Information on the bank building was taken from an Annandale History Club presentation given by Dwayne Bruns of Annandale State Bank (Lake Central) in 2005. The entire presentation can be found at www.annandaleonline.com.