Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester businessman has taken ownership of a longtime city landmark.

The sale of Collins Feed & Seed Center became official last Friday.

The new owners are Jon Zimmerman and wife Stacie. They currently own and operate four other local businesses, including Red Nose Lighting and Polytek Surface Coatings. The two plan to renovate the building and continue selling birdseed and animal food. They also plan to operate a separate antiques business at the site. The purchase included the extensive inventory of antiques acquired by former owner Randy Collins and his wife. The Collins store located a block north of Civic Center Dr. (411 2nd Ave. NW) has been a landmark for more than 70 years.

“Collins Feed & Seed has remarkable potential for growth,” says Jon Zimmerman. “This is truly an old-fashioned general store capturing a lifetime of memories. We plan to enhance this operation with new marketing and branding efforts.”

A press release includes this information about the property.

Originally opened in 1946 by the Stoppel brothers, the business was run as Stoppel Feed & Seed for 28 years. Brothers Fabian, Raymond and Erwin sold typical farm-related items including animal feeds, seed corn, field seed and fertilizer. The 22-foot-wide store had a steady business and eventually moved into selling pet food and supplies, lawn and garden items and water-softener supplies. When the Stoppels retired in 1974 the store was sold to John Collins and renamed Collins Feed & Seed Center. Randy Collins, son of John Collins, took over the store in the 1989s. Since that time, Randy and Ann Collins have successfully run the store, which still has its original wood floors, sells stacks of feed and seed, plus antiques they have acquired over time.

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