When in Kalona and thinking of an appliance barn what all comes to your mind? In going through the building which has 4000 square feet of show room and shop, you will find a nice display of Amana and Maytag appliances just waiting to come to your house.

Joe Beachy first started the business in 1960 at the old Boone Hotel in Kalona. He bought out Eldon Swartzentruber and Jonas Beachy.

Joe bought an acreage south of Kalona and put his appliances in the remodeled barn, also clock repair and sales. Joe was fortunate to have seven boys and as they grew up, they helped in the business as a family project.

In 1980 Ken and Landon bought the business of selling and servicing appliances. However, in 1987 the building burned and had to be rebuilt. In the pictures you will see the old and the new buildings.

While building the new structure they had their business in the Blum Tire Shop behind the Pull’r Inn.

They service an area of about a 25 mile radius of Kalona. They retail Amana and Maytag products, both Iowa-based companies. Ken said they also sell Viking and Sub products - a high-end line of home appliances.

They employ eight people, four are office and sales and four work in service and delivery. Employees are Landon, Ken, Karen Fenn, Angie Michaelis, Steve Miller, Ray Overholt, Monte McDole and Mark Sarver. They do a lot of service work.

Not only do they sell washers and dryers, but refrigerators, ranges, deep freezes, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and water distillers. They are open five and a half days a week. A lot of sales are made by word of mouth.

They enjoy finding old appliances. On hand, they have a brand new Easy Spin washer and rinser that has never washed one set of clothes. This is 35 years old. Also, a Maytag washer made in 1921 on display was purchased by the Beachys in 1995.

All in all they enjoy their work and seeing the display room made you envious of having some new items in your own house. The Beachys enjoy working in the public eye of selling and service.