Kondos Outdoors

In the early 1900s the building was owned by the Kaleva Lodge, a Finnish fraternal organization. They held events and meetings on the second floor and rented the first floor to other businesses. They owned the building until 1978, when they sold it to Sue and John Wavrin who ran a woman’s clothing store on the first floor.  Most recently the Kondos business has purchased the building from the Wavrin’s.  Kondos manufactures tough camping gear and dog sledding equipment and accessories. They have been making their products in Ely since 1980.  

This space originally housed a general store. By 1906 it was the building you see today and housed a confectionary store run by John Jackman, a Finnish immigrant. John also ran the bottling works in Ely for a time. John and his family appear to have left Ely by 1910 and settled in Aitkin, Minnesota operating a farm there.   

Adolf Manninen and Matilda Manninen ran the confectionary business in 1907 and possibly beyond.

In the early 1930s there was a store called the Tiger Store (see photo) here. The Tiger Store sold auto parts and was run by Arthur Forselius, a Finnish immigrant and successful businessman

During the late 1930s Fred and Florence (Seltner) Handberg moved their women’s and children’s apparel store from 1^st Avenue to this location, calling it Handbergs and beginning its long career in women’s clothing. Eventually, the Handbergs gave up the retail business, and taking advantage of the growing tourist industry, built and operated an outfitting company on Moose Lake. 

After the Handbergs, the building continued to house woman’s clothing stores, first Vicky’s owned by Victoria Matesha during the 1940s 50s and 60s, then Bobby Johns established in 1971 by John Evancevich and Bob Altuvilla. Later John and Mary Evancevich took over operations. In 1978 Sue and John Wavrin bought the building and continued the business under the Bobby Johns name.  In 2013, Sue Wavrin and her brother Bob Tomsich ran the Second Chance Consignment and Curiosity shop here. 

Most recently, Kondos Outfitters moved their business to 145 East Chapman. Kondos constructs rugged outdoor gear for both winter and summer.

In the Hall above the retail shop, The Finnish Kaleva Lodge held their meetings for decades. The Kaleva Lodge was a fraternal organization founded in 1898 in Montana to foster fellowship among Finns in America.  The organization along with the Ladies of the Kaleva provided education about the Finnish culture, support for its members and the community at large. The Kaleva owned the building in the early 1900s, renting the main floor to the businesses mentioned above and eventually selling to Sue and John Wavrin.  Sue and John have retired. The building is now under the care of Kondos Outfitters.

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1900 – this was a general store

1910s and 1920s – a Confectionary Store

Early 1930s – The Tiger Auto Parts Store (see photo)

Late 1930 – Handbergs Woman’s and Children’s Apparel, proprietor Fred and Florence Handberg

1940s through the 1960s – Vickey’s, proprietor Victoria Matesha

1971 – Bobby John’s, proprietors Bob Altuvilla and John Evancevich

1978 – Bobby John’s, proprietors Sue and John Wavrin

2013 – Second Chance Consignment and Curiosity Shop, Sue Wavrin and Bob Tomsich

2019 – The Cobweb relocates to this location for one summer season, Glenda Beibl Harvaugh proprietor

2020 – Kondos outfitters buys the building and moves their business to this location

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

1900 AND 1907 Ely City Directories

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

Ely Since 1888 (The Blue Book. Ely, Mn. The Ely Echo. 1988).

Ely Phone Directories from 1949 to 2020 (available at the Ely-Winton Historical Society)

Information from David Kess

Information from Sue Wavrin (owner)

Information from Flossie Handberg Carlson (daughter of owner)

Information from Mary Levander