Sterler Announces His Retirement, Sale Of R&J’s New & Used

Sheldon, Iowa — What started as a very small new and used furniture store in a location in the 800 block of 3rd Avenue downtown, has been sold and it’s founder is set to retire.

Roger Sterler, along with his late wife Joanne, founded R&J’s New & Used in 1987. Since it’s humble beginnings, the business grew rapidly, first expanding into the corner spot in the Wolff Building at 9th Street and 4th Avenue. The business soon outgrew that location, as well, and moved to their current 7th Street and Business 60 location.

Roger announced the store’s sale and his retirement on Tuesday’s KIWA Morning Show.

(As above) “We have sold the business lock, stock and barrel, all the buildings and everything. What’s going to happen, I don’t know. But we’re able to sit back. The kids said I’ve got to retire, or whatever you call it. At 91, I guess I should be doing something.”

After raising and showing hogs, Roger says he took auctioneer training at Northwest Iowa Community College, then known as Northwest Iowa Technical College.

(As above) I started doing some auctioneering, then people would say, ‘Why don’t you just buy this whole thing and just sell it out of your store?’. So we got started doing that with about twelve little remnants of carpet and two recliners. That’s what we started at. Now we had a total of 35 buildings and storage units full of furniture.”

He says the past 34 years in Sheldon have been a great time for him.

On behalf of the management and staff of KIWA Radio, we want to wish Roger Sterler a long and happy retirement.

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