Newport Businesses

Newport family businesses have been the best respected businesses in the south Washington County area.  In the late 1950’s Bob North, Newport Drugs, and George Fisher, Fisher Foods, built Newport Center that still stands today as the center of the Newport business district.

George Fisher’s son Jack took over the super market in 1974.  Unfortunately, Jack died young of a heart problem and with the opening of larger stores in Cottage Grove the store closed soon after Jack’s death.  If Jack had survived his heart decease, he would was one of the most likeable and friendliest grocery store owners in the area.  He was truly missed by the community.

Bob North was the second generation of druggist to get into the business. Dave North and his wife, Mary, continued in the business for many years.  Now the third generation has taken over. Their children, Tricia and Brian, now run Newport Drug and the North Pole Restaurant.  The success of the business can be traced to the friendly service of the family.  The menu of the North Pole Restaurant has been one of the tastiest in the area. 

If you ever needed a left-handed threaded bolt, John Bartl probably had it in stock.  John Bartl was George Fisher’s brother-in-law and one of the first tenants of the shopping center.  John and son, Tom Bartl, ran John Bartl Hardware for over sixty years. Finer people you could not find in this family business.  John taught Tom well.  It was one of the friendliest hardware business that ever existed.  The inventory was phenomenal.  If you needed a special item to fix your plumbing, all you had to do was explain it to Tom or one of his staff and they would know what you needed.  Tom closed the store and really deserves his retirement.

Louie Tinucci was a prince.  When his restaurant burned down in 1974 he and his wife Pat didn’t know if they would rebuild. Louie was a second or third generation restaurant owner.  Three of his boys, John, Mark and Greg (Gus) convinced him to rebuild and take them into the business. Eventually the boys took over the business and it has been a huge success in the dining and catering industry.

Sharing ownership in a family business with your siblings can be stressful if each one does not know what their job should entail.  It seems that was not a problem with John, Mark and Gus. They ran the business with perfection with the help of their father.  John retired a few years ago and is in business with his daughter who I understand has about three restaurant locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis.  Gus also retired.  I am sure he spends his time on a boat somewhere.  Mark bought his son, Mark Jr., into the business it seems to have been a good move to keep the business in the family.  Talk to any past or present Tinucci employee and they will tell you what a pleasant family it was or is to work for.

There are other Newport businesses that are family run.  Jim Mischke and his father own Newport Auto.  Jim is one used car salesman you can trust.  I am sure he learned that from his Dad.  Jim also has Wilbur Husaby as his top salesman.  Husaby has been selling cars in the area for over fifty years.

The biggest family business in Newport is Bailey Nurseries.  They have been in business for over 100 years and I believe the fourth generation is in charge.  Gordy and Rod Bailey’s children have entered the business and have been running it for some time.  It is a highly successful business and will probably remain in the family for years to come.

There have been other Newport business people who were integral to the development of the city.  Pete Thompson comes to mind.  Pete was a Cottage Grove born and raised citizen.  He spent his life in the real estate business with an office in Newport Center.  Pete’s main goal in life was not to pay for a cup of coffee or a lunch.  He was pretty successful at it.  Pete died many years ago so I can now reveal that he once bought me lunch at Tinucci’s.  He told me to never tell anyone and if I did, he would deny it and our friendship would be over.  Pete had two sons.  One became a airline pilot and the other farms in southern Minnesota. I have known these people for years and look at them to be a large part of my business life.  I learned a great deal from them and will always be grateful