So, probably not surprising if you think about it, but I hadn’t, is the fact that ‘Menards’ is a family name. Menard’s was founded in 1962 by John Menards Jr. in Eau Claire, WI.
Menards is a privately owned company with stores in 12 states (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming). Since it is private, they don’t have to release their earnings, but it is thought to be the 3rd largest home center chain in the United States behind The Home Depot and Lowe’s.
There is also a sister company of Menards named Midwest Manufacturing who makes some of the products sold in the stores using brand names MasterCraft and Ultradeck, among others.
The Mr. Menards from the commercials, BTW, is named Ray Szmanda, and he is alive (as best I can tell, anyway!). He is a freelance announcer.
Lastly, in March 2009, Menards opened its flagship megastore in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The Waukesha megastore is the largest Menards in the United States and has two glass elevators, two massive industrial escalators, and a snack shop.
Source: Lena from Dave Ryan and Wiki
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Yes but what about the creepy Ms. Menards chick with the red glasses? Who is she?
Living in a non-Menards state, I unfortunately do miss having them around.
I don't miss the commercials, or the complete and utter un-shopability of their stores, or the way that no two stores have the same layout or selection, but they did have some good prices from time to time.
Plus, I haven't been able to shop at Lowes at all since I had an altercation with the Store Manager at our local store. (By choice, not by restraining order.)
So really all we have is the Home Depot anyway.
In fairness, Menards doesn't have good prices unless you count the post-rebate price.
Occasionally they would have a random item for about half what you could find it for at the Depot.
Remember the Pirate Raft bolts?
You mean "woulda been cheaper to just buy a pontoon" bolts?