Sheboygan's Sentry grocery store is now a warehouse for art
The grocery store lasted just 10 months before closing
SHEBOYGAN — A building that was designed to be a grocery store has been transformed into a warehouse for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
Sentry opened the 50,000-square-foot grocery store in June 1999, located south of the Taylor Heights Shopping Center and Culver’s. The grocer lasted just 10 months before closing in March 2000. In 2006, Gold’s Gym planned to open a health club in the eastern portion of the building while a 11,000-square-foot bar and restaurant was proposed next door. Neither ended up opening.
"What we need to do here is perhaps bring the Taylor Heights area up to date," said Mayor Juan Perez. When Festival Foods opened in September 2011, Mayor Bob Ryan said, "It will again make this a vibrant corridor for the City of Sheboygan." Besides the Fringe Benefits Thrift Store, the majority of the 59,470-square-foot building remained vacant until 2014 when the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) purchased it.
The listing price was $1.4 million for the 7.7-acre lot.
The non-profit JMKAC now uses the building for art storage and to perform vital work that supports and enriches what visitors experience at both the Downtown Sheboygan Arts Center and the Art Preserve on Lower Falls Road. While the building is not open to the public, the activity occurring there is related to general maintenance, painting, and reorganizing interior spaces according to a museum spokesperson. It owns over 10,000 individual works of art.
Since the property is owned by the non-profit organization, it is exempt from property taxes. Between 2000 and 2014, the City of Sheboygan collected $992,634 in property taxes from the property’s owner, California-based Realty Income Corporation. In 2014 alone, the firm paid $37,758 in taxes. Under JMKAC ownership, $0 has been collected.
The Fringe Benefits Thrift Store, which leased 3,475-square-feet, was a long-time tenant in the Sentry building until the store closed in October 2023. That space is now being reconfigured to provide additional flexibility for art storage according to JMKAC. Fringe Benefits rebranded to LaValley Home & Garden and is now located in Howards Grove. Store proceeds continue to be used to support local causes.
When the Sentry closed, 50 people lost their jobs. At the time of the closure, Sheboygan had three Piggly Wiggly stores, an Aldi, a Pick 'n Save, a Park & Shop and a Park & Save. Before it was purchased by JMKAC, the building was considered as a possible location for a Metropolitan Justice Center.
Not so "tidy"
When the City Plan Commission approved the museum's request in 2014 to operate the warehouse, JMKAC promised to "take care of the grounds and parking lot, and ensure the area is tidy at all times." Dirt and grime can be seen running down the front of the building and last summer, weeds grew out of control in the parking lot and along the building. Instead of landscaped islands in the parking lot, a grim sight of weeds, dirt and tire ruts were seen.
“While the building itself remains a behind-the-scenes facility, we recognize the value of maintaining a positive visual presence in the community and are developing a longer-term plan for improvements to the entire property,” said Liz Kelsch, Director of Marketing at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. When asked about the appearance of the building with faded paint, Kelsch stated the JMKAC has allocated funds for some exterior painting later this year. She added staff is currently repairing the damaged fence to the east of the building.
Last week, an abandoned vehicle with no license plates was observed precariously parked on the lawn. A stack of tires was also seen in the parking lot. Last year, Google’s Street View Ostrich captured a beer can and weeds clogging a storm drain at the property’s entrance.
To assist the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in maintaining this property, consider making a donation at jmkac.org or sign-up to volunteer.
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