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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Mocol Boys...

Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/voices/mocolboys.html

Joe, Tom & George Mocol

In July of 2008, Dave Engen sat down with three of the Mocol children.  Individuals all, but each very proud to be known by many in the community as one of the "Mocol Boys."  Highlights from the conversation are below.

 Introduction...

The guys say a quick hello, letting you meet them and know who's talking in the pieces below (1.2MB; 1:02).

From Syria to Mankato...

A brief discussion of Mocol's long and interesting history (2MB; 1:45).

There used to be 48 neighborhood grocery stores...

Now there's only Mocol's.  The guys talk about some of the stores that have come and gone (2.7 MB; 2:20)

They want to have someplace where they can be somebody...

The Mocols discuss the role their store plays in the life of their customers and the neighborhood (5 MB; 4:23).

Customer Service (and then some)...

A brief discussion of the way customers are treated at Mocol's--the guys didn't learn this stuff in a training manual! (2.7MB; 2:22)

You're not going to see this on TV...

George and his brothers discuss the diverse range of customers that walk through the door (1.5MB; 1:16).

Would you ever consider running for office?

So their father (and former Mankato mayor) Herb asked many a customer.  Mocol's has always been a place to talk politics.  Here the guys discuss bumping into the likes of Walter Mondale and Rudy Perpich (4.2MB; 3:42)

Passings...

George, Tom, and Joe discuss how they and the store dealt with the deaths of their grandfather, Joe Mocol Sr., and their father, Herb (3.3MB; 2:53).

What's the future of this place?

The guys explore the possibility of yet another generation of Mocols running the store (1.4 MB; 1:13)

You just don't have people that know everybody...

Tom, George, and Joe discuss what the community loses when places like Mocol's close their doors (2.8 MB; 2:28).

He's never been depressed...

The guys respond to one final question and the answer leads to one final story about Herb (2.5 MB; 2:12).