Hanco HistoryNick Hansemann

Hanco was founded in 1928 by Nick Hansemann as the N. R. Hansemann Company. After graduating high school and having just a year and a half experience at a tire supply jobber Nick spent the $650 he’d saved on a new 1928 Chevrolet and borrowed $50 from his mother for working capital to start on his own. With this money he purchased supplies, and started selling them to the trade.


By turning over this merchandise rapidly, his inventory grew and by the end of his first year he had repaid the $50 loan and compiled an inventory worth $432. He was only 22 years old. Each year the business grew, even during the depression.


In the early forties, Nick rented a small building at 3015 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis and added one employee to run the ship while he called on dealers. This didn’t last long, as he outgrew it as well. He then moved into larger quarters at 4020 Minnehaha. He hired a full-time bookkeeper, secretary, and two more salesmen.4020 Minnehaha Location


After more growth and prosperous years Nick entered into a stock sales agreement in the early 1960’s with two of his valued employees, Lowell G. Michels and Jack Wright, who in time took in three more partners, Lloyd Olson, Marlyn Houk and Paul Morgan. Through this 5 owner partnership the N. R. Hansemann Company was incorporated and became Hanco Corporation.


Bloomington Location

The company continued to grow, and in 1976 the company moved to a larger location on 1101 West 79th Street, in Bloomington Minnesota.


The partnership saw its peak at 5 members and shrank through the years as Paul Morgan sold his share to Marlyn Houk and Lloyd Olson in 1984. They then sold their share back to Lowell Michels and Jack Wright in 1986, leaving the original 2 who had purchased from Nick. Jack and Lowell moved the company once again, to 3650 Dodd Road Eagan Minnesota.Dennis & Carol at current location


Jack and Lowell stayed the owners until Jack passed away in 1997, giving sole ownership to Lowell Michels.


In 2004 Hanco Corp. was purchased by Dennis and Carol Larson who are the present owners. They moved Hanco to it's current location (2855 Eagandale Blvd. Eagan, MN) in December of 2010. Dennis has been with the company since 1975 and has had the pleasure both working with and knowing Nick first hand.