Mills Feed and Supply in Moline recently held a grand re-opening after completion of a new retail store and warehouse.
The new building is located on the south corner, adjacent to their existing buildings at 111 N. Main Street.
Wanda Mills, owner, said the old building will continue to be utilized, allowing for expansion of their retail merchandise lines.
Her son, Shawn Mills, and daughter, Stephanie Bogdahn, are now in charge of the feed and supply business. But Wanda is never far away — she’s has moved into a new beauty shop in the new Mills Feed and Supply building.
“You can now get your hair fixed, buy your feed and do some gift shopping with one stop,” said a smiling Stephanie. “We just can’t believe how much room we now have. It sure makes going to work a lot more enjoyable.”
Wanda’s shop, “The Hair Mill,” is only a few blocks from where she has fixed hair for the past 29 years at Moreno’s Beauty Shop.
“We shed a few tears last Friday when I moved down here,” she said, referring to her friends and customers at Moreno’s. “But everyone was supportive of this move, and I’m so glad to be here with the kids every day.”
Wanda’s husband, Tom Mills, passed away only four years ago, so she was forced into being the sole owner of Mills Feed and Supply. “It hasn’t been easy,” she said, “but I have the best three kids in the world. I simply couldn’t do it without them.”
Another daughter, Chelise Moore, also lives in Moline and sometimes works in the store. She has a son, Tyler.
Stephanie works mostly in the store and Shawn takes care of outside equipment and services provided by Mills Feed and Supply.
The new building is a 60×100’ metal structure and 3,000 sq. ft. of it occupies the retail store. The back end of the building is a warehouse.
The building has two offices, two restrooms, a retail showroom and large warehouse.
They sell mostly feed, seed and fertilizer but also have certain other supplies and limited hardware items.
The original building where their office was located dates back at least to the 1930s. It previously was a feed store and lumber yard.
Employees of Mills Feed and Supply are Jared Wiseman, Jon Elliott, Travis Gragg and Bryce Gragg, plus Dennis McNee is a contract hauler.
“We have tried to keep our store inventory simple yet handy for people who don’t want to drive all the way to Wichita or Independence to get certain things,” said Stephanie.
They have a line of Wrangler shirts and jeans, plus cowboy hats, work boots and muck boots. There are saddles, vet supplies, leather purses, gift items, cards and hand-crafted wood items such as rocking chairs and miniature barns that can be customized with names on them.
“We’re not trying to be Atwoods,” she and Shawn said with a laugh. Still, they are interested in hearing about other merchandise which their customers might like to see carried in the store.
Another new enterprise will be started in January by Shawn and his wife, Dana. They plan to offer processed meat that they grow themselves. More details will be announced later. Shawn and Dana have a son, T.J. who is 16 months old.
Stephanie’s husband, Joey Bogdahn, works closely with the family, too, in his role as an area rep for Purina Mills.
Stephanie will be taking a leave-of-absence soon — hopefully in January, when she delivers her first baby. “We’re expecting a boy,” she says with a smile. “We need strong workers around here so we try to have lots of little boys.”
Tom Mills originally was in business with Roger Patteson then Tom and Wanda Mills bought the business completely in 1988. That means this is the Mills family’s 20th anniversary year.
“We all feel passionate about this business and our community,” said Stephanie. “We love Moline and all the people who live around here. We can’t imagine doing anything else for a living.
“It’s a great place to work, and a better place to grow up. I’m glad all three Mills kids could stay in Moline. It’s home to us.”
