Second Lou Perrine's Store in the Works

KENOSHA, Wisc.—The proposed second location for Lou Perrine’s convenience store is back on track. But the existing plan may be tweaked before construction is approved by the city, according to the Kenosha News.

Members of the Perrine family recently went before the Kenosha Plan Commission to discuss building the new store at the site of a former Mobil station. The second store has been in the planning stages since late 2018 but was delayed by road construction and COVID-19, and the Perrines want to expand the size of the planned building.

“This has been a heck of a year,” said Anthony Perrine. “Part of the reason for the expansion of the building is, I think, there’s going to be more of a need for certain items, such as the grab-and-go foods. By expanding the building, we’ll have more grocery and retail space.”

Perrine said he is committed to seeing the project through—particularly after the nearby Stinebrink Piggy Wiggly shuttered in August 2019. “I’ve got over $100,000 into the project already,” he said. “I fully intend to commit to this as a 2021 project. I’m looking at a late winter or early spring construction, upon approval.”

Commissioner Lydia Spottswood said she was concerned that the convenience store could dissuade another full-service grocer from opening in the area.

“It’s a chicken-before-the-egg kind of question,” Spottswood said. “If we say ‘yes’ now to the expanded, miniature grocery store, I can’t help but wonder if we’re killing any chance for the shopping center to be able to come back with a grocery store. I get concerned with the southeast portion of the city being a food desert. It seems like an area that really could use a full-service grocery store.”

In response, Perrine said his plan for the business is aimed at coexisting with—not preventing—a traditional grocery from opening in the area. “Kwik Trip doesn’t kill Festival,” he said. “If I was holding back a grocery store from coming in there, I wouldn’t feel good about myself.”

Lou Perrine’s was featured in the November 2020 NACS Magazine cover story, “Look for the Heroes.” The c-store is active in the local community and recently donated 1,000 pounds of food to a local food bank. In addition to the pandemic, the family faced several issues this year. This past fall, a customer accidently drove through a corner of the store, taking out the ATM, the wine cooler, the checkout counter, health and beauty products and the shut-off for the fuel pumps. Luckily, no one was injured.

In August 2019, Lou Perrine’s hosted Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI-1) through the NACS In Store program that helps lawmakers connect with local retailers to hear firsthand about the issues impacting their business.

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