- In September of 1950, Frank Muldoon opened Muldoon's Men's Wear and Varsity Shop in the Gateway Shopping Center on South Hastings Way, also known as Highway 53, in the middle of open fields. A few trees and lots of sand were our neighbors, no other retail stores. With the exception of Wagner's Bowling Alley, Jimmy Woo's Restaurant, Austin's White House Restaurant, a small grocery store and a gas station (all within a 1/2 mile stretch), we stood alone. Many people laughed. Some said, "Muldoon...you'll never last six months!"
- Back in 1950 shortly after opening. The left half of the building was a women's beauty salon, the right side our store. Before serving in the Air Force in WWII, Frank was a hairdresser and owned Frank's Beauty Salon in downtown Eau Claire, above Edwin's Women's Store. He always felt that a women's beauty salon and a men's store would be a good combination. Look closely at the original store picture below and you can see that there was nothing around the building.
- Today, retail stores operate to the north, east and south of us and homes are located to the west (behind our building). Now look again. See that car? It could have belonged to Ann Landers. Ms. Landers had her hair done at the beauty salon next door. She and her family lived on Valmont Avenue just down the street from us.
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