Soon Kalona will be home to a destination space to see and experience the best in appliance and sleep products. The Appliance Barn by Grand Appliance will convert the former CIVCO building into brand-new showroom, a facility unlike anything in the region.

To celebrate the groundbreaking, the community is invited to a free, family-friendly event on Thursday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the site, located at 102 1st St. S, Kalona. The official kickoff by the Grand team and Kalona Chamber of Commerce will take place at 11 a.m.

The event marks the next exciting chapter in Grand Appliance’s partnership with The Appliance Barn, a respected name in Kalona for decades.

“From the beginning, we were drawn to the strong community ties and customer-first approach that Brylee Miller and his team built at The Appliance Barn,” Jeff Clemens, Marketing VP at Grand Appliance, said of The Appliance Barn and its former owner. “This new showroom is a reflection of Brylee’s long-term vision and we’re proud to make it a reality.”

Grand Appliance, a family-run company headquartered in Sturtevant, Wisconsin with 29 retail storefronts across Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, took ownership of The Appliance Barn on June 1.

The new 40,000 square foot facility will house a 20,000 square foot showroom featuring premium kitchen vignettes, custom installation solutions, a large-format sleep shop, and one of the region’s largest selections of in-stock appliances, including the GE family of brands, which will now be available for the first time through The Appliance Barn by Grand Appliance.

The store will continue to serve the local Kalona and surrounding communities as The Appliance Barn has for decades. In addition, it plans to become a destination for customers in the surrounding region.

“This store is designed to eliminate the need to travel east to Chicago or west to Des Moines to experience all the latest in appliance innovation and design,” Clemens said. “We aim to provide residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and all of Eastern Iowa with a showroom experience that’s worth the trip.”

At the groundbreaking event on July 17, community members will have an opportunity to meet the team, tour the future site, and help the company celebrate this exciting step forward. Raffle prizes including GE appliances, Grand gift baskets, and local business gift cards will be awarded, and folks will be able to enjoy music, games, and refreshments. Local food and shaved ice trucks will be onsite; kids are invited to jump in the bounce houses, get their faces painted, and take home balloon animals.

For more information about the event, visit Grand’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/1074238031519432 or contact Jess Haar at jessica@grandappliance.com or (513) 703-0613.