End of an era as Erdman’s closes for final time

We knew this day would come. Yesterday was the final page in the legacy of Jon Christiansen and staff as the County Market grocery store we know as Erdman’s closed at 6 p.m.
Erdman’s County Market had been an anchor in Kasson for 95 years. It was the go to place for some of the best meat products in the county, along with fruit and vegetables.
Grandparents took their grandkids there. Then the grandchildren established their own shopping pattern by taking their kids there once they had established their family.
Jon Christiansen, general manager, was most generally found in the meat department. He and his staff produced some of the most scrumptious cuts of meat and smoked meats in the state.
I recall finding beef sticks, not just one variety, but beef and cheddar sticks; beef, cheddar and jalapeño; beef, cheddar and ghost peppers were some of my favorites. (When asked what ghost peppers were by a customer, Jon simply replied…”they’re hotter than **ll.”
Jon and his wife, Lisa (office manager) were honored at last year’s Kasson Chamber of Commerce as business of the year.
On Monday, I wandered over to the store to grab a bag of ice. No ice.
Many of the shelves were empty, and some were being consolidated to make it easier for customer shopping.
I bumped into Marty, the department manager, who was moving product from a bottom shelf to the shelf above, more consolidation, and more signs of the end of Erdman’s.
There were guys sitting in the café, I suppose for one last coffee session.
As the clock ticked down to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, there were last minute things to pick up, knowing that it was the end of an era.
Within six weeks the store will reopen as Hy-Vee. (On Monday, I noticed a Hy-Vee construction pickup heading down Main Street toward Second Street.)They’re closing for a remodel, which means we’ll be going elsewhere for groceries and lunch.