BUCHHEIT TO CLOSE ORIGINAL STORE SITE

BIEHLE, Mo. -- At one time in Southeast Missouri history, the phrase, "Going to Biehle," meant just one thing -- a trip to Buchheit's stores.

Now, "Going to Buchheit's" can mean a trip to Jackson, Perryville or Herculaneum in Missouri, or Sparta or Jacksonville, Ill.

And to Biehle for a few more weeks.

Within 60 days, the retail operation at the original Buchheit site will be closed.

Tim Buchheit, president of Buchheit Inc., announced early this month that the Biehle retail store location would consolidates its operations with the new Jackson and Perryville sites.

Employees at the Biehle location will be offered positions within the company, according to Buchheit.

Once the retail merchandise is out, the Biehle site will consist of a small engine repair shop, feed mill, fertilizer plant, trucking division, wholesale and corporate offices.

Rudy Buchheit opened the Biehle store more than six decades ago, during the Great Depression in 1934. The family now owns six stores, including the Biehle store; three others in Missouri (Perryville, Jackson and Herculaneum) and two in Illinois (Sparta and Jacksonville).

The current Biehle store was rebuilt in the late 1980s follow a fire.

The company now employs about 700.