It’s not just a feed store.

Saturday, December 18, 1999

It’s not just a feed store. It’s a supermarket.

Kyle Klaehn is celebrating the grand reopening of Double K Specialty Inc. this weekend.

Not only, does the business have all the products and services that made it a success at its old location, but now it has more. Much more, in fact.

"We’ve expanded our feed lines; especially with a couple of new equine feeds, but mainly, we just have more showroom space to display all the products we can offer. There’s more of everything, plus we’ve got drive-through service," Klaen, the owner, said.

When the Austin Audubon Society held its annual bird seed sale fund-raiser this fall at Double K Specialty Inc.’s new headquarters, the organization realized record-breaking sales. Dorothy Owens said the 1999 fund-raiser was the "best ever" in the Audubon Society’s history.

Owens credited the success of the sale in part to the new location, but also to the drive-through service Klaehn’s business offered.

The business is located in the former Holiday Dodge dealership at 109 Fourth St. SE. The dealership has moved to a brand new facility along West Oakland Avenue.

Klaehn has transformed the former auto showroom into a livestock and pet supermarket. The dealership’s old garage has become a storage area for feed and where vehicles can drive through to load their cars and trucks out of the elements of Mother Nature.

"We load the product," said Klaehn. "All they have to do is order it and drive in the garage and we load it. Today, more people are looking for more convenience when they do their shopping and we think we have met that need at Double K Specialty, Inc."

Next month, Klaehn will celebrate the ninth anniversary for the business formerly located at the old Austin elevator, just a few blocks away.

Now the business is located at one of Austin’s most visible intersections: the end of heavily-traveled First Avenue where it intersects with Fourth Street Southeast.

Dennis Jax is one employee, but Wayne Wahlers has to be the best-known of Klaehn’s crew. Wahlers worked for the former Austin elevator since 1964 and knows everybody and everything about livestock and pet feed and related products.

"He’s been with me since day one and he’s a valuable employee," Klaehn said.

Wide aisles and neatly stacked shelves greet shoppers, who can find shoves and rakes, Tingley and LaCrosse overshoes and boots, halters, buckets, water dishes and feed bowls, bird houses and bird feeders, pet toys including Christmas stockings.

Iams dog and cat food, shampoos and odor eliminators, Spirit of the Wood cedar planters, porch and tree ornaments and feeders and bird as well as bat houses and nutritional and other animal needs.

If it has four legs and a tail or wears feathers, chances are, Double KK Specialty Inc. has it.

The grand reopening festivities conclude today. Then regular business hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 437-1747.