Two recent obituaries in the Post-Bulletin directed my thoughts back to Hanny’s Men’s and Women’s Wear in downtown Rochester.
Keith Draves, a veteran clothing sales person and store owner, died Dec. 6. Elizabeth Hannenberger, widow of the late Harold Hannenberger, died Dec. 29. She and her husband founded Hanny’s Men’s Wear downtown on First Avenue Southwest in 1939. She actually managed the store while Harold was away during World War II from 1943 until 1946 but continued until retiring in 1962. About that time, Vince Berg moved the Hanny’s store a couple blocks south while the new Kahler East and parking ramp were being constructed.
In 1964, Hanny’s returned to the present location at 19 First Ave. S.W.
Vince didn’t have time to be in athletics, but his partners, Marv Hannenberger and Paul Ryan, were athletically inclined. Marv’s tennis reputation spread statewide as he trained many players, including several Rochester high school tennis greats. In fact, my neighbor, Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz Jr., now 99, said he had played tennis against Marv Hannenberger in earlier years.
"Marv was the best," said Fred.
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Today, Marv is a resident of Green Valley, Ariz., and is age 96.
Another of Vince’s partners was Paul Ryan, who spent some time on the golf course. Paul died in 1974.
For a time, Hanny’s opened the Red Hanger Shop, with athletic clothing for the younger crowd.
In the final years of his clothing career, Keith Draves was associated with Hanny’s.
Some other longtime employees include Gene Rush, now retired but who worked there over 30 years, and Duane Newell, still there after 36 years. Gene told me, "It was always an enjoyable place to work." Duane said that "Hanny’s has always been good to its employees." Duane visits Marv in February when he goes to Arizona to shorten the Minnesota winter.
Incidentally, Marv Hannenberger was inducted into our Rochester Quarterbacks Hall of Fame the second year we held it. That was May 7, 1992, at the Kahler’s Heritage Hall. Paul Giel, former athletic director at the University of Minnesota, was the keynote speaker.
Today, Tim Berg, partner with his father, Vince, is "top guy" at the store with a number of other folks, including the veteran clothier Dick Grassle. It’s a store for men and women serving folks worldwide for over 70 years.
Next week: Peoples Cooperative Services is 75 years old.
