Wayne Wenzel in the back workshop/office area of Dad’s Good Stuff.
CALL HIM A CHARACTER or the ultimate BS-er or, simply, a man of quick wit. Whichever, Wayne Wenzel truly is all of these.
Dad’s Good Stuff is located on a corner of Broadway in downtown New Richland, Minnesota, south of Waseca.
And to locals, this proprietor of Dad’s Good Stuff, a long ago hardware store age-defined by worn wood floors and a wainscot ceiling, Wayne is much more.
You can get duplicate keys made here.
He’s the key maker, paint salesman, furniture refinisher, window and screen repairman and peddler of all things old in New Richland.
Lots and lots and lots of merchandise.
Poke around here long enough in the stashes of aged merchandise that create for narrow, barely-passable aisles, and you will find something you need.
A stack of colorful Fiestaware awaits a buyer.
Wayne’s store holds some wonderful antique furniture including the Murphy bed folded against the wall behind the white table.
Plenty of collectibles here.
Wayne will open the door of the oven here and show you the “pies” he made. Fake, of course.
Pottery for sale.
From Red Wing chicken feeders to Pyrex casseroles, to a Murphy bed, vintage calendars, Fiestaware, John Deere collectible toy tractors and lots lots more, Wayne’s store is packed with good stuff. That is if you are into antiques and collectibles. Or need paint or paint supplies. Or a key. Or a piece of furniture refinished. Or…a bit of bull.
Wayne likely adheres to this sign.
Throughout the building, tacked on walls and tucked into displays, signs showcase Wayne’s humor. Under a “Complaint Department—Push Button for Service” sign, this jokester has affixed a doctored mousetrap with a button.
High on a wall, Wayne informs shoppers: “This Wagon Tonng Was on the First Wells Fargo Stagecoatch that Came Thru N. R. and Latter Robbed by the James Brothers Frank & Jessy James.”
Now, if you believe that, you’ll believe that Wayne once won the Waseca County Spelling Bee.
My favorite of all Wayne’s signs.
But remark to this jovial man about the handprinted “Our Surveillance.” warning posted next to a portrait of Christ peering downward, and his mood shifts. “He’s been good to us,” Wayne says, suddenly serious.
And I know he’s thinking of his son who died of a heart attack five years ago.
“They say time heals,” he’s told me earlier, his eyes watering. I listen and reassure Wayne that it’s OK to talk about Troy, to cry, that time doesn’t really heal. I wonder then how much pain this barrel-chested man hides behind his humor. The moment passes and he’s back at it, dishing out bull.
I’ve only just met Wayne. But he’s made me laugh more than I’ve laughed in a long time. That is his gift to the community of New Richland, to those who stop by Dad’s Good Stuff for paint or keys or collectibles or BS. Laughter. The good stuff.
BONUS PHOTOS:
Be sure to sign the guestbook next to this horse lamp when you walk in the front door.
Admire the aged wood floors.
Be careful what you touch. The varnish on this trunk was still drying when I visited. Table saws are set up about mid-way through the store for Wayne’s woodworking projects.
These, Wayne tells me, are his “computer files,” handwritten cards detailing customers’ paint purchases.
FYI: Current hours at Dad’s Good Stuff are from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday, from 8 a.m. – noon Friday and Saturday, and Sundays by appointment. I’d suggest calling ahead (507-465-8551) if you’re traveling from any distance to shop here. Tell Wayne I sent you.
Check back for another post from New Richland.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Great shop and great man. You can always tell when you walk into a place like this that there is a great person behind all of the items. You found it in Wayne. I love the signs and the humor throughout—and the computer files are amazing, In this day and age this is a step back in time.
Dad’s Good Stuff really was a step back in time. I think we were in Wayne’s store for two hours. Yes! Love him and his shop.
Love the “computer files” and wood floor photos (great POV). Dad’s Good Stuff appears to be full of treasures. New Richland is officially on my radar and hopefully the Mrs. and I can make a trip out that way soon.
You and Cyndie would love poking around in Dad’s Good Stuff. I’d call ahead, though, given the distance you would be driving. Also, I want to check out that corner bar sometime where the bikers stopped. I’m curious about the interior.
The photos posted on each of your blogs are outstanding. Your success lies is having the lens capture a moment that needs little text. Kudos to you 🙂
Thanks, Sue. Sometime a picture truly is worth a thousand words.
Lots of “Good Stuff” to poke around and explore – loving your captures, especially the surveillance one – ha! Happy Day 🙂
That’s definitely my fav.
Loved this post Audrey, what an awesome place to have visited. Sounds like you had a great time, Wayne sounds like a fun guy to visit with. So many favorites here….the photo of christ, the keys, and the file with customer paint purchases.
Yes, lots to see at Dad’s Good Stuff. The longer we lingered, the more I saw, and I’m sure I still missed a lot.
Oh, my gosh, that’s a place to spend a whole day looking at things! I recognize some of the Red Wing pottery…I have a few pieces on my shelves. What fun!
I could certainly have spent a lot more time in Wayne’s shop. But with closing time at noon, we headed out the door to the Red Leaf for lunch.
Can’t wait to pop back over there….Love the charm of New Richland.
My dad graduated from there!
It’s a great little town. Your name, BTW, was dropped by Justine at Pearl Button Primitives. A post will be forthcoming on that lovely Waseca shop.
Great post and looks like a place I would like to visit!
Thanks, Cynthia. Dan says the same. You would love poking around here and chatting with Wayne.
Excellent photos and write up.
Thank you, Ryan.
My sisters and I come to Minnesota once or twice a year to visit our Father. We come from New Jersey, Tennessee and Florida and one of our first stops is to see Wayne. We always look forward to seeing Wayne and Merlys and to shop at Dad’s Good Stuff. We have filled Dad’s house with many many treasures. We have also managed to take many of our finds to our own homes as well. Wayne always has smile and a good story to tell. The laid back chatter with a cup of coffee brings me back to the simpler times growing up on the Farm. If you ever find yourself in New Richland this a stop you must make.
Wendi, thank you for stopping by to share your experience at Dad’s Good Stuff. Several years have passed since I discovered this shop and wrote this post. You’ve inspired me to make a return trip soon. It’s a fun and interesting place and Wayne’s a great guy.