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De Pere officially welcomes Bosse’s News & Tobacco

Relocation ends store’s 125-year run in downtown Green Bay

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February 9, 2023

DE PERE – There’s a new “boss” on the block in the City of De Pere.

Bosse’s News & Tobacco’s recently relocated to 107 S. Broadway in De Pere from its longtime downtown Green Bay location at the end of last year.

The relocation ended the store’s nearly 125-year run in Titletown.

Bosse’s – which carries magazines, books, cigars/pipes and Wisconsin souvenirs – officially celebrated its move to De Pere with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 27.

“We looked at other locations in the area, but we liked the feel of De Pere,” Manager Lisa Mitchell said. “It has that small-town feel and friendly people.”

Mitchell said Bosse’s opened its new location just in time for the holiday season.

“Things started busy with the Christmas season,” she said. “The winter weather has slowed things down a bit, but we are looking forward to the warmer weather – it’s a great area for foot traffic.”

Mitchell said being located near the Mulva Cultural Center, which is set to be completed sometime this summer, will only help the store.

“Everyone mentions that,” she said. “The Mulva is great for De Pere, and we hope people will take the short walk down Broadway to visit the store.”

De Pere Mayor James Boyd said Bosse’s is a good fit for the City of De Pere and its residents.

“I have a history of going to Bosse’s when I was younger,” he said. “When I was approached a few months ago with this possibility, I was excited. I might be biased, but Bosse’s coming into downtown De Pere has made us that much better. Another 125 years would be awesome… The place looks incredible.”  
 
Forced to move
According to the store’s website (bossesnews.com), Bosse’s was started in 1898 by Joe Bosse on the corner of Cherry and Adams streets in downtown Green Bay.

Norman Liebert – who Joe hired as a paperboy in 1922 when he was 12 years old – took over the business when Joe died in 1943. 

Norman’s son Steve Liebert, who is still active in the business, eventually took over from his father when he retired.

In 1981, with the redevelopment of downtown Green Bay, Bosse’s was relocated one-half block west to 220 Cherry St.
The store remained there until late 2022.

“The move to the new location in De Pere wasn’t by choice originally,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t have any intentions to move out of downtown Green Bay – we were there for 124 years and 11 months. The move was prompted because there’s development happening in the building, so we were told we had to leave.”

Bosse’s store manager, Lisa Mitchell, center, stands with members of her family at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Rich Palzewic Photo

Mitchell said from there, they had to act fast.

“We had to quickly find a new home,” she said. “After several months of looking, we settled on our new spot.”

Mitchell said the response they have received from the community has been “wonderful.”

“Many people are welcoming us and are happy we’re here,” she said. “We still have many past customers from the Green Bay store.”

Mitchell said the timing of the move worked out well.

“We had to be out of our Green Bay location by the end of November, and (the De Pere) building was finished right before that. They did a beautiful job restoring the hardwood floors – it’s a historic building that is older than (Bosse’s). It’s fitting we’re in such a historic building.”

Year-long celebration
As part of its 125th-anniversary celebration, Mitchell said Bosse’s will offer special sales each month – specifics on each month’s special can be found on the store’s social media platforms and website.

Mitchell said other special events will also be announced throughout the year to celebrate the 125-year milestone.

Bosse’s, which is celebrating its 125th year in business, carries an assortment of magazines, books, cigars/pipes and Wisconsin souvenirs. Rich Palzewic Photo

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.
 
1923 History
None of us reading this article were alive in 1898 – the year Bosse’s began its journey in downtown Green Bay.
Here are some historical facts about the year 1898:
William McKinley was the U.S. president. Three years later, McKinley became the second president assassinated.New York City was established.There were 45 states in the United States.The Spanish-American War began. Later in the year, the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, was signed by McKinley. The U.S. acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.Brown defeated Harvard 6-0 in the first intercollegiate hockey game.W.K. Kellogg invented Corn Flakes cereal.Hawaii was formally annexed to the U.S.Rudolf Diesel of Germany obtained patent No. 608,845 for his internal combustion engine – later known as the diesel engine.

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