The front-of-house (FOH) retail staff are more than just employees; they are the heartbeat of a store’s success. They are the store’s ambassadors and the first point of contact for customers, and they play a pivotal role in shaping a customer’s perception and experience.
The Northshore Journal is thrilled to introduce you to Jerry Kohl, the charismatic face at the checkout register at Mike’s Holiday in Grand Marais. This series aims to bring you closer to the vibrant personalities who make local businesses thrive.
Jerry was born way back in 1950 and raised in Minneapolis. He attended St. John’s Prep, class of 1968, and earned a BA in philosophy at St. Thomas University, class of 1973.
Jerry went on to study philosophy at the Masters level at Notre Dame University. Jerry is a fan of all sports and is “a huge Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan.”
To this day, you’ll see him wearing Fighting Irish garb on game days. He said, “When I was there in 1973, the football team went undefeated and untied and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve for The National Championship.”
Jerry has 61 caps branded with his favorite teams from various sports, professional and otherwise. Some are limited editions, almost one-of-a-kind. Seeing which hat he’s wearing on a given day will tell you which of his favorites are playing.
Jerry acquired his Cook County home in 1999. A regular weekend visitor, he decided to move here full-time in 2007 after a 30-year career in financial services and a stressful divorce—northshore retirement.
In early 2008, Jerry was looking for a part-time job to supplement his retirement income when he mentioned his search to Marcie Quaife, the manager at Mike’s Holiday in Grand Marais. She hired him on the spot.
“In 30 years of working in financial services, I’d never touched a cash register,” Jerry said. “It took me a long time to learn how to work the damn thing.”
In addition to working the cash register, he learned how to sell DNR licenses, bag up minnows, and stock cigarettes. More importantly, he got to know the regular customers and greeted new ones.
Jerry tried to retire full-time at the end of 2011. Six years ago, though, he returned to work the morning shifts at Holiday.
Coming back was a good move for Holiday and Jerry. “I absolutely love working at Holiday,” Jerry said. “It’s the best job I could have in town.”
His philosophy education led to a favored quote he shares on his Facebook page. It is attributed to Horace Walpole, an 18th-century English writer, art historian, man of letters, and politician. “This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel…” and then he added, “a possibility to those that do–Jerry Kohl.”
Jerry sees the world as a possibility for doing things. He’s done a bunch over the years.
His two sons are his pride and joy. Elliot, 39, works for Jerry’s former employer, Wells Fargo, and Colin, 37, is an accomplished chef in Minneapolis.
Before retiring, Jerry spent three decades in the financial services industry, the last two years as an internal audit department leader at Wells Fargo.
His “doing” isn’t limited to procreation and the financial services industry. He played amateur hockey and ran marathons.
“I ran fifteen marathons between 1993 and 2005,” Jerry said. In 1996, the 100th running of Boston, Jerry recounts a highlight. Wearing a t-shirt proclaiming his Notre Dame allegiance, he was hitting the wall on Heartbreak Hill.
Reaching the top of the hill, Jerry realized it was the site of Boston College. “Boos came raining down on me from the crowd,” he said. “When I pumped my fist in the air as I ran by, the boos got even louder, and the rush of adrenaline kept me going,” He added. “I love Boston.”
The Minnesota Whitecaps were a professional women’s hockey team in the Premier Hockey Federation. They played in Richfield, MN, and folded last year. Jerry has recently been seen wearing a cap produced in limited editions featuring the Whitecaps logo.
“I’m wearing this to honor the PWHLMinnesota team, which just won the first-ever Walter Cup,” he said. He’s already ordered the PWHLMinnesota championship hat to raise his inventory of lids to 62.
Jerry’s impact extends beyond the walls of Mike’s Holiday. He’s a dedicated supporter of Cook County athletics, attending all the games he can and cheering on the players. His warm greetings and uplifting messages when they visit the store have made him a beloved figure in the community, often earning invitations to graduation and birthday parties.
Jerry is a regular usher at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais. He plays golf as often as he can and is helping organize the Flintrock Range Association to build a shooting range nearby that will include Skeet, archery, and rifle/pistol ranges.
Please help us put a spotlight on the people who make our Northshore businesses thrive. Send your suggestions to northshorejournal@gmail.com or call (218) 226-3335.
