CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Homemakers is planning to bring at least 200 jobs to eastern Iowa when they open their new location along I-380 in Tiffin.

Coming to eastern Iowa is something Homemakers President Roger Merschman says people have been asking for.

“We did pick the 380 corridor, actually 380 has more traffic than Interstate 80. So you’ve got you know between Tiffin, Coralville, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, it’s a huge growth area in our state and it’s a huge opportunity that’s been staring us in the face for many years,” Merschman said.

Homemakers got it’s start in Urbandale outside of Des Moines in 1974. The company has been in business for 50 years. A part of Berkshire Hathaway and owned by Nebraska Furniture Mart since 2000, the store remains family-run.

“It is my brothers, myself, and now we have the next generation, we have three members of the next generation in the business so we are truly a family-run business we are just no longer family owned,” said Merschman.

Customers can expect the Tiffin location to have the same massive selection they have in Des Moines where Merschman says they offer 5 to 6 acres of options.

“It will probably be two levels but the overall square footage will be very similar. The backside warehouse will not be as big in the beginning but it will be ready to go for expansion,” he explained.

Right now, Homemakers already makes daily deliveries in eastern Iowa. Merschman says the new location will be self-sustaining, offering delivery services both in-home and curbside, or customers can pick-up on site.

“It’s like a giant McDonald’s drive thru people are in and out, in and out of there in an average of about 10 minutes,” said Merschman.

Homemakers buyers and marketing will remain in Des Moines, but the Tiffin location will still bring at least 200 jobs.

“We will still have all of the warehousing, the front end sales, front office, the financing pieces and all of that,” Merschman said.

The store is expecting to open in Tiffin in 2028 but it could be sooner.

“Our goal is to start moving dirt yet this summer,” said Merschman.

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