A family affair: Carlson’s celebrates 100 years in Wheaton

WHEATON – For nearly two-thirds of Wheaton’s long history, there has been a Carlson’s.

Originally opened in a barn on the far east end of Front Street in downtown Wheaton in 1915 by Lydia and Anton Carlson, it now has three glass, paint and hardware stores up and down the street in the area.

The family-owned business celebrated those decades of evolution and commerce on Sept. 10 with a party in its outdoor garden space.

Ken Carlson, senior member of the family and part of the third generation of Carlsons at the store, said he runs the three locations alongside three Carlsons, Mark, Keith and Allen, and one sister-in-law, Linda Carlson-Witte.

Ken, like most in the Carlson family, began working there in elementary school. He said he always planned to enter into the family business, even majoring in marketing in college.

“There was a bit of responsibility to the family and the tradition – the business was very old even when I got into it,” he said.

Mark Carlson, Ken’s brother, said working at Carlson’s with nine family members was like Thanksgiving Day every day of the week.

Both Ken and Mark said the business has changed drastically over the years – Carlson’s once had paint stores across DuPage County and a vast painting service but now is relegated to only the three stores in Wheaton as the Internet has grown and times have become harder for small businesses.

Loyal patrons Chuck and Vicki Kinnaman, who have shopped at the various Carlson’s locations since 1974, said they come every week to get items for the apartment building they own in town and for their Roselle home.

The personal touch and consistency makes all the difference, they said.

“You build friendships with your local businesses,” Vicki said. “They’re like family, and you stay faithful and true to your family. Anybody can go to an Ace Hardware ... but there’s excellent customer service here.”

Longtime customers Jan and Jim O’Grady said they can count on high quality experiences with lots of attention.

“When you come here, you get services and they engage you – they’re part of the community,” Jan said.

Ken said the party was for the longtime employees and loyal customers who allowed them to be such a big part of the Wheaton community for a century – often across multiple generations. Carlson’s is old enough that the great-grandson or daughter of an original patron could be shopping for paints for their home.

“There have been a lot of loyal customers here who have become good friends,” he said.

Soon, the fourth generation will have to step in to run the three touchstone businesses, Ken said. Though he said it is hard to imagine life without his time at the store, it will be coming soon.

Bryan Carlson, who has worked at the glass store for the past 19 years, said his late grandfather was “proud to push me in the direction” of the family business, but he was happy to follow in the footsteps of previous Carlson’s generations and that no one was ever “forced into servitude.”

He said he has spoken to customers who tell him stories about their fathers or grandfathers buying paint or nails or glass from his family or their generations of staff.

“We’ve been able to build relationships with customers that last through generations,” he said. “It’s nice to have a good reputation in town ... I hope to keep plugging away at it for as long as I can. It’s exciting.”