By Josh Hadley
Television and radio commercials for The Exclusive Company were widely aired in the Green Bay and Northern Wisconsin area during the 1980s and 1990s, making the brand a recognizable presence in local media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9ro6s0GHsI&list=PLJ_ryFqH5zbCvNzVIncR9Bfsb4C0ziPfv&index=2&ab_channel=SpeedmobileSpeed).
In the days before the internet and digital albums or streaming of music, people had to go to a store and physically purchase records, cassettes, and CDs to listen to. It was in this environment that The Exclusive Company thrived. Wal-Mart, Pamida, or Woolworths were not going to have any bands that were not completely mainstream.
If some people wanted something unusual, they needed an independent record store, and in Green Bay, that was The Exclusive Company. They carried (or could order if they didn’t have it in stock) anything a music fan might need. They advertised on local TV and had partnerships with many local TV stations and businesses. If some GB residents are of a certain age, then they will fondly remember going to the Exclusive Company at some point.
The Exclusive Company (Tom Smith pictured)
Sadly, as with all things, there comes to an end, and in this case, after 66 years, the Exclusive Company closed in 2022 after the death of founder James Giombetti and slowing sales. To many, this was the end of an era for Northern Wisconsin, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, something new was about to happen.
Tom Smith (aka Timebomb Tom, a local legend) used to manage the Exclusive Company, and he would move on to the heir apparent GB UFO Museum. Opened in 2022 following the dissolution of the Exclusive Company, GB UFO proclaimed its passion for music and culture. Managed by Smith and owned by Pierre Jacque, GB UFO is the place to get not just music but also oddball comic books, old VHS tapes, and little figures.
(Jacque is especially proud of having so many new and vintage toys in his store).
Located on University Avenue right between the music shop and a weed store, GB UFO caters to all of the counterculture, outcast, offbeat, and downright strange people of the Green Bay area. Opened by Jacque (former The Exclusive Company employee himself) with the express focus of being the beacon that was needed to fill the black hole left by the dissolution of the Exclusive Company, GB UFO found itself the center of a counter-culture explosion in the area.
Tom Smith and Tom Zalaski
Tom Smith was a staple among the music geeks in Green Bay during his time at the Exclusive Company, and his coming over to UFO meant that his knowledge about music would not be lost. “He’s a well-loved local legend. It’s like having a full-time celebrity endorser,” adds Jacque. “I didn’t want Tom to have to get a ‘real’ job, so I opened UFO for him.”
Records (actual vinyl records) have been growing in popularity for years (https://www.discogs.com/digs/collecting/vinyl-sales-up-in-2024/), and even with the internet, there needed to be a central hub where niche collectors and music enthusiasts could gather to discover rare vinyl records alongside an extensive collection of Alf memorabilia.
GB UFO Museum, though, does strike some people as an odd name for a record store, so why call it the UFO Museum? Jacque says, “Space is really big right now. Who doesn’t love an extraterrestrial adventure? It’s fun and unserious.”
That last part, “fun and unserious,” sums up the UFO in a nutshell. “UFO welcomes all that the area has to offer and does not pass judgment. Everyone is welcome at the store; just don’t take anything too seriously.”
Record Store Day (a national “holiday” and annual event where independent record stores worldwide highlight the unique culture of the record store)
Having just passed the 2025 Record Store Day and another strong year on the horizon, Jacque is not too worried about the prevalence of digital media taking away from independent record stores. “I have anxiety, but I believe strongly in physical media and capitalism,” Jacque says. Jacque also sells lots of little figures. He says that action figures and little plastic things make up “probably 25% of GBUFO’s business, and it’s fun for customers. Customers love fun.”
Regular customer Erin Hein loves to shop at the store because “I like their large selection of punk music.”
Average UFO Customer (Pierre Jacque in the background)
UFO has become a rest stop for music lovers, and UFO often has small bands perform concerts right in the store. The shelves are rearranged to accommodate live performances, which take place in the center of the record store.
Maggie Lakes is performing at GB UFO.
So even if visitors are not looking for a specific piece of pressed vinyl that may contain audio, there is something to find at UFO: little figures, old VHS tapes, randomly signed pictures of washed-up celebrities, or anything else.