Fairway Foods
In February 1926, the Daylight store, which had served the public for 25 years, changed to be known as The Fairway Market Company. The store first served the public beginning in 1893 when Mr. Charles A. Brunkow went into business in Delano after being asked by local merchants to establish the first cash paying produce business. Later the store became a grocery business. In 1901 it was called The Daylight Store, with R. E. Brunkow as manager. An enlarging business again demanded a change, and the business then became The Fairway Market Company. It was one of a number of 400 chain stores operating throughout the Northwest. The company handled its own line of package and canned goods under the label “The Fairway Brand.”
1946 –from The Main Street, a special supplement of the Delano Eagle:
“One of the first Fairway store to be organized is still located in Delano. Owned, managed, and operated by two partners, Mr. Paul Kruell, who has continued here since 1925 and Mr. Wm. Duel, who became a partner in 1936 – this store is still doing fine business after nearly 50 years of continuous operation.”
Paul Kruell and Bill Duel
Paul Kruell was born February 20, 1907 in Wittenberge, Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1925. In 1930 Paul was lodging with the Otto Metz family in Delano, and working as a salesman in a grocery store. In 1933 he married Florence Duel. Paul and Florence had three sons, Robert, David and Douglas and one daughter, Janet.
William Duel, Paul’s brother-in-law, became his partner in the store in 1936. Raised in the community of Delano, and a partner in the Fairway Market for a number of years, Bill left Delano in late 1950 to manage the Sterling theatre at Austin for Clem Jaunich. He was stricken with cancer and passed away in 1951 at the untimely age of 37, leaving his wife, Luella (nee Stevens) and four children. Universally loved and respected, Bill took an active but unassuming part in the community activities during the many years he made his home in Delano. He was a lover of music and for a number of years acted variously as director, drum major, and president of the Delano Concert Band.
Paul Kruell continued to operate the store in Delano, which eventually became known as Kruell’s Market. When the Delano Theatre burned in 1971, Kruell’s did not suffer any damage due to the efforts of the many fire departments involved in fighting the fire.
Fairway Foods, 1935 ad from the Delano Eagle
The Fairway food store was located in the building that is now, in 2023, the K. C. Hall and location of Meyer’s Chiropractic and Health Clinic.
Paul Kruell died in 1985, and is buried in the Delano Cemetery.
1940 Fairway Market ad from the Delano Eagle