About Us
Colder’s was founded in 1942 by Mr. Henry Felker as the Henry Cooler Company.
Not until a printer misspelled the name as Henry's Colder Company was the future namesake created. Initially Colder’s was a refrigeration service company. In 1946 Harry Felker joined the company and Colder’s branched out into refrigerator and freezer sales. Working from the back of their truck, they began selling and delivering freezers directly from the trains from which they unloaded them to neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee.
Our first store was located at 18th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue. In the 1950’s clothes washers, dryers and ovens were added to our product line. Two additional locations were added in the late 1950’s, one at 52nd and Fond du Lac, and the second at 27th Street and Oklahoma Avenue. The product line continued to grow in the 1960's with the addition of kitchen dinettes sets and a larger selection of household furniture.
It wasn’t long before a third location opened in West Allis at Hwy 100 and Greenfield Avenue. In 1974 Colder’s moved into a new 100,000 square foot location at 650 S. Hwy 100. This large and modern facility conveniently located at the I-94 expressway allowed the company to consolidate it’s existing stores into a single location. In 1983 Colder’s purchased the empty Wickes Furniture building across the street which is the current location at 333 S. Hwy 100.
In 1993 a second location opened at 9725 S. 13th Street in Oak Creek.
This new facility brought us closer to the south side and the heavily traveled section of I-94 between Milwaukee and Illinois.
Our Delafield store opened in late December, 2001.
It is located at I-94 and Hwy 83, South to Hillside Drive. This is our first two-story building with a large 20 foot high atrium and waterfall.
December, 2004 brought us to Grafton along the Northshore. It is located on the Northeast corner of I-43 and Hwy 60. The Grafton store is a grander version of our Delafield location.
Harry H. Felker
October 15, 1915 - April 19, 2011
The last of the three founding fathers of Colder's and president, Harry H. Felker, passed peacefully into eternal life on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. "Mr. Harry's" motto was to keep moving and did so in both his personal and professional life for over 95 years.
He remained involved in the business into his 80s and made frequent visits to the stores even through his last days. Mr. Harry worked hard his entire life with dedication and determination to make things happen. He was a pioneer in the furniture, appliance and electronics industry in Southeastern Wisconsin. Colder's four store locations are a legacy for which Mr. Harry was very proud of.
You will be missed, Mr. Harry!