T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Chuck Ryherd, co-owner and operator of the State Center Locker in State Center, poses by the company's sign recently. If they cannot find a suitable buyer, Ryherd and his wife Donna will close the business on April 20 after seven years of operating it.

STATE CENTER — Chuck and Donna Ryherd’s three children and eight grandchildren will be happy to share more family moments with them.

And the Ryherds — State Center residents and business owners — are eagerly looking forward to having that opportunity.

“Our oldest grandchild is 13. Our youngest is 6,” Chuck said. “We want to be able to partake in their events. Also, our parents are aging. Now is as good a time as any.”

However, their customers will miss the centrally located butcher shop offering custom, retail and wholesale services of beef, lamb and pork products.

After seven years of owning and operating the Iowa Meat Co., better known as the State Center Locker (SCL), the Ryherds will be hanging up their aprons and butcher’s tools effective close of business April 20.

“It was a very tough decision,” Chuck said.

The Ryherds put the business up for sale 18 months ago but have not received a satisfactory offer.

“We have had some interested parties,” he said

Regardless, family commitments soon beckon.

“It is still for sale,” Chuck said. “Our agent is Roger Kerndt of The Business Brokers (TBB) in Des Moines. Contact him at 507-707-6401.”

A buyer will be getting a shop with a good reputation and a solid sales history. The sales listing said SCL has had custom butchering orders one year out.

“Custom processing of beef and hogs is our bread and butter,” Chuck said. “We have had to turn some business away.”

The small business owner explained that SCL would contract with a livestock producer who would bring in four or five live heads of cattle. The farmer would have sold quarters or halves to his customers. We would collect a fee from the producer for processing.

During the interview pulled out a large file drawer packed full of manilla folders listing customers’ names and how they wished to have their orders processed.

The file drawer was part of several in the office

Chuck said the businesses’ customer base is a 30 to 40 mile radius from State Center.

SCL also sells deli cheese and meat products retail. Customers may park near the store and go inside.

“Some customers come from Des Moines specifically for our ground beef,” he said. “Our customers like the fact that they can take 10 steps in our store and see products in the display case and select what they want.”

SCL, in the 100 block of First Avenue South, remains busy selling bacon, hot dogs, other pork products, roast beef and more.

Chuck said the retail sales of their hot dogs – has increased since news began circulating the business would be closing.

Some Marshalltown area residents may remember SCL meat and cheese products when they were available at the former Hy-Vee Drugstore in the Meadow Lane Mall. The store was closed in 2020 by Hy-Vee officials.

Cindy Schulte of State Center said her family has bought meat and cheese from the Ryherds.

“State Center will miss the business if a buyer is not found,” she said. “Area residents will miss the retail sales, while beef, lamb and hog producers will miss the custom butchering too. The Ryherds are wonderful people, as were the previous owners. Both supported the community.”

The Ryherds learned the business from the previous owner.

“I was an actuary and Donna was an operating room nurse,” Chuck said. “We wanted to have our own business and purchased the locker. Terms of the sale required the previous owner to be available to us for help 90 days. We used his business knowledge and skills every one of those 90 days.”

Steve Sodders, a former state senator and State Center mayor who resides in the town of approximately 1,400 residents, said the business will be missed if the Ryherds do not receive a satisfactory offer.

“Small businesses are the core of any community,” he said. The SCL has been a fixture in town for 75 years.”

He, like Schulte, is hopeful that a new owner will take over soon. Chuck said he and Donna will reside in State Center if the business is sold or not.

“We have had significant success here,” he said. “We are not closing because of lack of business. And we have had good employees … especially the current group. They will have to find other work if we don’t get a suitable offer.”

SCL is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to noon and closed Sunday. For more information contact 641-483-2353 or sclock@partnercom.net/.