Mueller Electric Furniture and Bedding in De Soto is celebrating 95 years in business this year, owner Andrea Doyen-Patterson said.
The business is at 324 South Main St., where it has operated since it’s opening in August 1927, Patterson said.
She said Ruth and Ted “Slim” Mueller and their son, Ted Mueller, opened the business, and it soon became one of the top three largest GE dealers in the state.
A couple of decades later Patterson’s family entered the business.
“My aunt, Mary Lee Doyen, who is 88, said she was 15 and walking up and down to work at the ice cream shop down the street (from Mueller Electric) and Slim came out and said, ‘You sure are a go-getter. If you ever want a job, come in here,’” Patterson said.
Mary Lee took him up on the offer and soon became like part of the family, joining the Muellers on vacations to their house at the Lake of the Ozarks.
When the Muellers died in the 1980s, they passed on the business to Mary Lee, and she was the owner until her retirement in 1993, at which time she passed the company on to her brother, Gary Doyen, who previously worked for Purcell Tire, Patterson said.
Gary Doyen owned and operated Mueller Electric until his retirement in 2007, when he passed the business to Patterson, who had already been working there for many years.
“I’ve been here since I was 18, so I’ll be here for 30 years this year,” Patterson said.
She said it’s still a family-owned and operated business, with her sister, Carrie Bone; her fiance, Keith Recar; and her future son-in-law, Zach Maupin, working there.
Patterson said Stephanie McCullough also works at the store.
“She’s the only one who isn’t family, but she’s been with us so long that she’s part of the family,” Patterson said.
When the store opened, it sold just appliances, but in the 1970s, it began selling furniture and mattresses and became the first La-Z-Boy dealer in Jefferson County, Patterson said.
She said the business used to offer electrical work and sold electronics, like TVs, stereos and radios, but those are no longer available, despite the company’s name.
“We kept the name to keep the Mueller’s name going. We never changed it,” Patterson said. “We do get asked about it every day, though.”
Patterson said customer service is her highest priority and attributes the company’s longevity and success to it.
“We’re just grateful for everybody who thinks of us and the (local residents) who always keep coming back and shop small and shop De Soto. It means a lot to us,” she said. “It isn’t about the money. It’s just people who keep coming back because they know me and they know my family and they knew the Muellers. They aren’t just customers; they have become friends.”
Patterson said she has plans to expand this year, adding more home decor and more furniture lines.
She said the business also plans to participate in some of the upcoming De Soto community events.
Mueller Electric Furniture and Bedding is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, call 636 586-3308.