Menards is a giant hardware store located at 900 Greenbriar Drive in Normal, right off of Veteran's Parkway. The company headquarters is in Wisconsin.
| Hours |
Sunday 8am-8pm Monday-Saturday 6:30am-10pm
| Phone |
(309) 452-6299
| Website |
http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3072
History
This company began with an idea. John Menard Jr., the companies founder, had decided to make his idea a reality. He learned some knowledge about building in the summer of 1958, a time when economical agricultural buildings were in demand. To make this happen he started working on his pole buildings during the day and worked at a movie theater during the evening. During all of this he would also be contracting other building so to keep his crew working.
By 1959, several buildings had been erected around Eau Claire and the Menard name was gaining reputation. All the early success gave to the ability for the first major piece of equipment to be purchased, a 1946 Chevrolet truck, this and a tractor were the only two pieces of equipment that were used throughout the year of 1959. Due to increasing demands for Menard pole buildings it was a must to but more equipment and put on additional crews. With the demand still so high when John graduated from college he was able to dedicate all of his time to the business and then Menards was formed with John Menard Jr. as the president and major stock holder. At that time the first land was purchased and a small shop and office was erected on the Eau Claire site.
As customers came they often inquired about buying lumber and building materials. Realizing this need for lumber and building materials, they began to sell the materials to the public on a cash-and-carry basis. This was the beginning of Menard Cashway Lumber. In 1969, the Manufacturing and Warehousing function were added to the company, with the Truss Plant. Since then more plants have been added for treated lumber, prehung doors, steel, board, extrusion, concrete, and nail packaging.
Today Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest and has stores in thirteen states.
-Image from Menards website on their History page -All information stated on Menards website from their History page.
NEARBY STORES
NORMAL - 900 Greenbriar Drive, Normal, IL 61761 -Link at the top of the page
WASHINGTON - 1975 Freedom Parkway, Washington, IL 61571 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3237
PEKIN - 3535 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3081
PEORIA - 2627 W Townline Road, Peoria, IL 61615 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3248
SPRINGFIELD NORTH - 2701 Marketplace Drive, Springfield North, IL 62702 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3207
SPRINGFIELD SOUTH -3325 S Veterans Parkway, Springfield, IL 62704 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3062
FORSYTH - 533 Market Drive, Forsyth, IL 62535 http://www.menards.com/main/storeDetails.html?store=3060
LOCAL STAFF
General Manager
Darrin Vissers is the General Manager of the Menards in Normal. He holds a lot of responsibility for all the team members and managers within the store and all the day to day operations throughout the entire store. He watches the sales made in every department to see which areas doing well and what areas might need more improvement. He looks after the entire store's presentation and guest satisfaction. When extra help is needed he has the ultimate say in who receives the job opportunity and who does not, with the help and consultations of the Human Resource manager. He has great experience with our Menards in Normal, IL and has been apart of great guest service for twenty-two years.
Q: Any favorite moment that comes to mind? A: "At the moment I can still say that my promotions have been my favorite moments, definitely when I received the promotion to General Manager."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about your position? A: "I would have to say the most rewarding thing is being able to see our team members move up into management as well."
Q: What is it that you find most rewarding about helping all of our guests at Menards? A: "I find it most rewarding when I am able to help a guest that has taken the time to explain just how important his or her project is to me and I am able to help them out by finding exactly what they need and the best possible solutions. Knowing that we have the items here to help and that it was also something important to the guest is very rewarding."
Q: Now, being a GM here seems like it might be a big part of your life, so when you have free time what is it you usually do? A: "Well my children are active, so I help with the running around to all the activities. Thankfully, I still am able to spend time with the whole family other than all the running around."
Q: How long have you been involved with or apart of the Bloomington-Normal community? A: "I have been apart of this community for about fifteen years."
Q: How would you say you give back to the community?" A: "My children attend a Lutheran School and we are involved with the school as well as my children with their school activities. We are involved with local church. I would also say that being able to hire those that live within the community is a great way to help out the economy."
Overall Bob is a caring and easy going man. He does his job well here at our Normal Menards and has a great way of helping out not only within the store but within the community and his family.
Bob is unfortunately no longer working at the Normal Menards as the General Manager, he has been transferred to a different Branch and has been replaced by a young man from Wisconsin, whose name is Darrin. Darrin is an overall very nice and caring man, he is super eager to help out a guest whenever the need arises and is quite the busy beaver with the freight. He keeps the Menard Stockers on their toes. He is a fun loving and generally happy guy too.
Human Resources Manager
Lindsay Adams has a range of responsibilities, usually dealing with the team member relations throughout the store. She recruits those who seem to be a positive addition to Menards; along with it she assists with all the interviews and converses with the GM about making the decisions with hiring. For every department there is training to be gone over, even if you are already well informed with the department there is training on changes to policies or to how to help the department run smoothly, the she is responsible for overseeing this. Every couple of months she does interviews with the team members to hear their thoughts about an assortment of questions, by doing this she can see how they may be or are interested in growing with the company and if there are any holes that there may be. She has been with Menards for nine years.
Q: Any favorite moments, within the nine years, that come to mind? A: "Whenever I see a team member interested and move up into management."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about your position? A: "Getting to help the team members excel with the company and move into management."
Q: Outside of work what is it that you usually do? A: "At the moment I plan my wedding whenever I can. It is coming up very soon so I spend a lot of time with that. Besides that I am usually spending time with my soon to be husband, family, and friends."
Q: How long have you been apart of or involved with the Bloomington-Normal community? A: "About thirteen years. I went to Illinois State University and the after that I started work here at Menards."
Q: How would you say that you give back to the community? A: "Well every spring cleaning I have I end up donating a lot to Goodwill. I also help the with being able to employ those within the community."
Hardware Department Manager
Elsie Neal has to manage and maintain the hardware department by supervising all of the team members in the department, making sure it is kept presentable, and creating the schedule for the entire department. The necessities to keeping it presentable would be making sure that the team members are doing their assigned duties of stocking, facing, cleaning, and helping guests. If any of these needs more attention that is when she is notified by the General Manager(GM). Delegating the price changes when necessary also falls in within her responsibilities. When Menards interviews possible candidates for the hardware department, Elsie is also apart of this process. She has been with Menards for ten and a half years.
Q: Any favorite moment that comes to mind? A: "Well, yea, there are always favorite moments. Especially when guest relations are positive. One example I can give you right now would probably be about one of the contractors that always come in. When I first started here I was horrible with names, so I wouldn't be so great at remembering his. So one day he came in and I helped him, when I still couldn't remember his name he just said, 'Just think of Dennis the Menace.' It cracked me up and ever since I remember his name because of that good laugh I had.
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about your position? A: "It is for sure the guest relations. Knowing that your doing your job well enough to help someone out enough that they come back to receive more help and that they enjoy a conversation. I also enjoy being able to get to know all of the team members in this department. Being able to have a friendly work environment I think helps out a lot with the out look on the store and the team members performance here, and also it is great knowing that I can have such a positive work environment with the team members and still receive the respect from them all."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about helping the guests at Menards? A: "It would definitely be that we can get them what they need and knowing they leave here happy."
Q: During your free time, what is it that you usually do? A: "During my free time I usually spend my time with family and friends. I also have puppies so I spend a lot of time with them and doing housework."
Q: How long have you been involved with or apart of the Bloomington-Normal community? A: "I moved here from not too far and have been apart of this community for about twelve years."
Q: How would you say that you give back to the community? A: "I like to participate in the suicide walks that we have, the gay pride parades and giving to charity. Even around the holidays I like to decorate my house and one of my neighbors has told me that she likes the way my house looks whenever I do. Ever since then I always make sure that I decorate my house because I know it makes her happy."
Plumbling Department Manager
Darren G.M. is responsible for an assortment of responsibilities. He is in charge of all the plumbing team members, making sure they are working, helping guests, and in charge of carrying out the disciplinary actions, such as write ups, which are recorded and handed to him by the HR manager. He keeps track of the department sales, issues, whether it be involving a team member or a guest's special order, and the department inventory. He has sixteen years of experience at Menards.
Q: Any favorite moment that comes to mind? A: "When I transferred from 1st assistant manager in the hardware department to the department manager in plumbing."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about your position? A: "Making sure that the guests find what they need."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about helping guests? A: "It would have to be not getting burned out. Whenever I am helping a guest I am still able to know a lot of information about this department after the many years of being with Menards."
Q: During your free time what is it that you usually like to do? A: "I like to spend my time watching sports, going out to fish, and having or attending cook outs with my family and friends."
Q: How long have you been with or involved in the Bloomington-Normal community? A: "I've been involved in this community through my work for about fifteen years."
Q: Since you are involved through your work, would you say that you give back to the community in any way? A: "Yes, I'd say that I give back in the way of being here to help people with their home improvement needs."
Millwork Department
Michael Smith's position is full time sales and the majority of his duties are guest service, making sure everyone is happy. he also contributes to stocking the items and problem solving for the department. He has three years of experience behind him so far.
Q: Any favorite moments that come to mind? A: "It is always really cool to help people solve problems in their unique situations. Being able to work within their budget and if they have a tight budget. Being able to help out within all of those situations is always a favorite for me."
Q: What would you say is most rewarding about your position? A: "The days that I'm able to meet sales goals which lets me know I am doing well in my part to help secure the department sales which branches out to help secure employment and then so on in other ways."
Q: During your free time what is it that you usually spend your time doing? A: "I'm usually taking care of my boys."
Q: How long have you been apart of this community? A: "On and off for about thirty years."
Q: How would you say that you help out the community? A: "Through my work at menards by doing my part in helping guests with problem solving for their home improvement needs and by making sure I do my part in my position."
Overall Micheal is a person that is always trying to find ways to improve professionally and personally.
