J.J. Koepsell was a plumbing wholesaler for years on Sheboygan's riverfront. Today, its former site is home to a future apartment complex.

SHEBOYGAN – A ship chandlery store and retail hardware was established in 1889 called the J.J. Koepsell Co. The firm, originally at 1029 S. Eighth St., had a long run in the city.

In 1902, according to Press clippings provided by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center , the firm was incorporated, and Koepsell, with sailing vessels being replaced by steamboats, added a large line of hardware, plumbing, heating and mill supplies.

Later in a 1926 Sheboygan Press article, Koepsell was said to be a distributor of Kohler enamel ware and lighting systems. Also an exclusive distributor for United States radiators and boilers. The company was an extensive dealer in range boilers, tools for plumbers, steam-fitters and electrical contractors, valves, pipe fittings and kindred lines.

The sales of plumbing supplies grew to meet the demand of the mid-20th century consumer in the Sheboygan area. In a 1953 article, the company had 33 employees and served the eastern half of Wisconsin north of Milwaukee.

In 1945, the company outgrew its original quarters and moved to the remodeled warehouse facilities at 1010 S. Ninth St., where the corporate office remained until the end of the company's tenure.

Koepsell was sold in 1981 to Howard Herman, president of Superior Electrical Supply, Inc., through the trust department of Citizens Bank of Sheboygan. At the time, they would run the firm, along with its 22 employees, as a separate entity.

RELATED - When Jimmy Carter campaigned in Sheboygan in 1976

By the end of the 20th century, Koepsell no longer operated out of the building and the building was eventually sold to former Sheboygan developer Texan Mic Anic. Anic had talked of creating a restaurant space, but those plans never really took flight.

In the end, while there was considerable interest in the building, it was too expensive to renovate it for other uses. The last years saw multiple building code violations, and without any deal, Anic elected to tear down the building. In September 2013, the process of demolition took place and by November of that year, it was another footnote to the city's history.

RELATED - Anton Brotz built the Sheboygan County's first airport

Today, according to the city of Sheboygan, Berkshire Sheboygan Riverfront apartments and townhomes are being built on the property. The city of Sheboygan Plan Commission approved the $30 million project in 2023.

Gary C. Klein can be reached at 920-453-5149 or gklein@gannett.com . Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @leicaman99 . Check out his other work at www.sheboyganpress.com/staff/4383066002/gary-c-klein/ .

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: J.J. Koepsell was a plumbing wholesaler for years on Sheboygan's riverfront. Today, its former site is home to a future apartment complex.