A customer once called our original location, “the best kept secret in Charles City,” due to our rural setting several miles in the country on a gravel road. When we first opened our doors in 1995, they were garage doors. We operated out of the owner’s three stall attached garage! We offered used furniture, appliances, antiques, and second-hand miscellaneous items, everything from dishes to lawn mowers, sometimes even used cars! We offered credit to customers that otherwise would not have been able to purchase furniture. Our owner, Mike Dugan, became known for letting customers make payments of whatever they could afford, $25.00 even $10 or $5.00 at a time. Our advertising consisted of “word of mouth” and once a week we would travel to gas stations, grocery stores, anywhere with a bulletin board to hang flyers showing what we had in stock. Everyone fought for that job each week!
In time, as the customer base and inventory grew, we saw the need for more space. In September of 1996 we moved a 4000 square foot metal building several miles to our home location and remodeled the inside. This expansion gave us the showroom we needed to start offering several lines of new furniture.
Our growth continued steadily over the next couple of years. We made a baby step of renting a retail space on main street (finally in town!) before finding our home in our present location at 101 9th Street in Charles City in 1999. This location had been known as a furniture store for upwards of 30 years prior to our move. In this location we were able to finally stretch our legs with plenty of room at 15,000 square feet and showcase all new furniture. We stayed with our roots, however, and continued to offer the second- hand furniture and appliances at the home location until they also moved into town in 2000. We also added a third location at 320 E State Street in Algona in 2001.
Today our locations at 101 9th Street and our Algona store offer many lines of new furniture including La-Z-Boy, Ashley, England, King Koil mattresses, Mohawk brand floorcovering, and Frigidaire appliances. Our outlet store at 1206 Gilbert Street in Charles City offers several value priced lines of new furniture as well as second-hand furniture and appliances.
The Furniture Barn is owned by Mike and Sandra Dugan. We employ anywhere from 10 to 20 people with everyone being “friends and family” including their two daughters and son-in-law. The Algona store is managed by Kevin and Christy Angell, husband and wife and longtime friends of the family. Our staff would be delighted to meet you and assist you in your shopping experience.

101 9th Street

Charles City, IA 50616
Bus: 641-228-2222
Fax: 641-257-0566

www.thefurniturebarninc.com