Third-generation leader of iconic Belleville family business retires after 50 years
Mueller Furniture has been around since 1927 and has seen many changes over the years.
The latest is the recent retirement of the store’s president, Lynwood Mueller.
His last day at the fourth-generation, family-owned business based in Belleville was Monday, Jan. 3.
“I’ve been doing it almost 50 years,” said Mueller, 69, adding that retirement “seems just dandy” so far.
Lynwood Mueller’s son, Mark Mueller, 39, is now the owner and president of the business.
Mark Mueller said his dad was “thrust into the business” in fall 1971 when his grandfather, Les Mueller, had taken ill.
Lynwood Mueller was a sophomore at Indiana University at the time. He said he’d come home from school after classes on Thursday, work through Monday and head back to school Monday evening.
Les Mueller recovered, but from that point on, Lynwood Mueller started what turned out to be a successful career in the family business.
Lynwood Mueller was a business major and said filling in for his father allowed him to gain experience inside the store rather than starting out by helping make deliveries.
Mark Mueller said his father was not “one to seek publicity.” But this didn’t stop Lynwood Mueller from working hand-in-hand with the public all this time.
“Lyn Mueller is a good man,” said former Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert, whose friendship goes back many years.
Eckert went on to say that the Mueller family has been so stable for Belleville. To grow their business and to stay in Belleville was good for the city, said Eckert.
Lynwood Mueller said, “The city has always supported us, allowed us to prosper.”
Former U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart said he and his wife, retired Circuit Judge Annette Eckert, have “known Lyn Mueller for many moons” through their church and from shopping at the furniture store for years.
The Muellers also rent warehouse space from Enyart.
Enyart described Lynwood Mueller as “such a great guy … a delightful guy.”
“I can’t say enough good things about him,” continued Enyart.
In an email, Mark Mueller wrote that his dad’s “policy always was (I have continued this policy) that if someone takes the time to walk into the store and ask for a donation then we provide them with a donation of some kind. Silent auctions, trivia nights, raffles, you name it, we said yes.”
Lynwood Mueller is also assistant chief of the East Side Fire Department, where he’s served as a volunteer since 1990, said Mark Mueller.
Eckert said he has the “utmost respect” for the entire Mueller family and praised his friend’s dedication to the fire department and to helping keep Belleville safe.
Although retired from the furniture business, Lynwood Mueller will stay on with the fire department and be able to spend more time going out on calls, Mark Mueller said.
Lynwood Mueller was 25 years old when the store burned down in 1978. Mark’s email stated that his father “built the business back from that position to a three-store operation that is one of the largest distributors of Amish-made furniture in the entire Midwest.”
Mark said other activities in store for his dad will likely include more cycling — he’s an avid cyclist — and more trips out of town to visit family.
“Knowing Lyn, I doubt he’s really going to retire,” said Enyart. “I suspect he may pop into the store now and then to check up [on things].”
In fact, when I had spoken to Lynwood Mueller, he admitted he had been at the store about an hour earlier.
He said that he’s retired from the day-to-day operations but still plans to be involved in special projects and training for employees, particularly at the two Missouri stores.
Enyart said: “I wish him the best. I know Mark [Mueller] will do a terrific job running the family business.”
Mark Mueller has worked with his father since September 2004. “It was a very special 17 years that made a man out of me,” he stated.
“If my son wasn’t in the business,” said Lynwood Mueller, “[my retirement] probably would’ve been the end.” He said they likely would have sold the business.
Now he looks forward to celebrating the store’s 100th anniversary in 2027.
About Mueller Furniture
Mueller Furniture was founded by John Mueller, who ran the business until his death in 1952. HIs sons, Roland and Les, then took over the business. Roland Mueller died in 1960.
Les Mueller, who once pitched for the Detroit Tigers, continued to run Mueller Furniture until retiring in the 1970s. He died in 2012.
In March 2017, the News-Democrat reported the opening of the Lake St. Louis store at 9 Fountain Grass Drive, Lake St. Louis, Missouri. The business was then being run by founder John Mueller’s grandson, Lynwood Mueller.
In May, the family opened a third location at 15424 Manchester Road in Ellisville, Missouri.
At that time, Mark Mueller said they “made the decision to open this store based on our customer feedback. We knew that people in St. Louis and St. Louis County wanted a quality, locally-owned furniture option and it was just a matter of us finding the right location.”
Mueller Furniture’s original location is at 1004 E. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, and 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday.
Hours at each Missouri location are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit muellerfurniture.com. Call 618-233-0667 for the Belleville store, or 636-234-3361 for either Missouri store.
