Green Bay Exclusive Company reacts to founder’s death
The good week, bad week and other news round up for the week from our Nov. 18, 2021 issue
By John McCracken
Bad week for: Wisconsin music lovers
James “Mr.G” Giombetti, the owner and founder of The Exclusive Company, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13.
Giombetti founded the Wisconsin-based record store chain in 1956 with a location in West Bend. The company grew to seven locations statewide, with locations in Green Bay and Appleton.
Giombetti was the voice behind the franchise’s iconic slogan “Say it with me,” which could be found plastered on stickers, posters as well as TV and radio advertisements.
The Exclusive Company in Green Bay (423 Dousman St) occupies the space of the former head shop Pipe Dreams The record store opened in 1985.
Longtime store manager Tom Smith, who has worked at the Dousman Street location since 1988, told Green Bay City Pages the loss of Giombetti was a profound shock to him.
“I’m sure not a day will ever go by at work without him crossing my mind or hearing his voice in my head, perhaps him telling me fatigue makes cowards of us all,” Smith said in a Facebook post. “This loss is on the magnitude of losing a parent. My condolences to all his family, friends, fans, employees and former employees. Long Live The King.”
Good week for: printing money
The Green Bay Packers opened up its sixth ever stock sale this week, but according to the organization “stock in the Packers does not constitute an investment in ‘stock’ in the common sense of the term.”
Since the team’s inception, the Packers have held only five prior stock sales, which took place in 1923, 1935, 1950, 1997 and 2011.
Stocks are $300 apiece. The funds will go towards ongoing Lambeau Field construction projects, which include new video boards and concourse upgrades. As of Nov. 17, the organization is at 109,000 shares sold.
Information about purchasing stock can be found at www.packersstock.com.
John McCracken is the Editor of Green Bay City Pages. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @jmcjmc451