Dad's Original Business Location
608 E. Third Street, Sterling
Dad opened Al's Auto Upholstery, September 1, 1960.
Dad's New Location, 1201 E. Fourth Street, Sterling,
Building He Built, Summer, 1977.
Due to debilitating illness, he closed "Al's," September, 1999.
It was obvious that Dad needed to be in business for himself, and he found one that was up for sale. So Dad went to work for Dave's Upholstery in order to learn the business. After four months our lawyer drew up papers for the purchase; however, the day he met Dave at the lawyer's office to sign the papers, Dave wanted a clause added to allow him to repair lawn furniture in Sterling. Dad refused to change the terms and later learned how God had spared him from a bankrupt business. Dave had carried out many materials at night after they had been inventoried.
So Dad rented a building at 608 East Third in Sterling, ordered materials, bought a sewing machine, hired a seamstress and opened for business. But the Lord had many lessons to teach us before success came. Within a few months, Dad found a job for his seamstress, closed his doors, went back to the garage, and on his knees told the Lord that the business belonged to the Lord, and He would have to make it a success. Dad said that it was just like the Lord had turned on a faucet. After he had yielded to the Lord, all those calls he had made looking for business began to pay off. With a steady stream of customers, Dad paid off his loan in just a couple of years. (recollections by Jan Dean)
Al's Auto truck (October, 1967)
Mike (front right) & Jerry (back)