Owens Interstate Sales has a long and varied history. The business was founded in 1939 by Garrett Owens, and at that time was a filling station and repair garage. In 1947, Garrett bought a barracks from Ft. Meade, and moved it and the business to its present location. With the move, the business changed from a gas station to a salvage yard.
Garrett’s son Howard bought the business in 1949, replacing the salvage yard with a store that sold new auto parts and tires. From this time until 1968, Owens Interstate Sales sold everything from veterinary supplies to TV’s, as well as being a Rambler dealership for a number of years.
Gregg Owens, Howard’s son, came into the business in 1973. Gregg expanded the building twice, once in 1976, and again in 1985. It was in this year that Radio Shack became a part of the company. It was also around this time that Owens Interstate Sales first became involved with PPG automotive paints. These two additions to the company helped the business continue to grow and in 1998, Gregg’s son Chad, returned to Sturgis to become the 4th generation to take part in the family business.
Since that point, the business has continued to expand in all areas. Owens Interstate Sales now emcompasses a variety of departments under one roof including Verizon Wireless, Radio Shack, TV’s and Major Appliances, and CarQuest Auto Parts. Owens Interstate Sales is also a PPG Platinum automotive paint distributor and in 2008 and 2009 won the Pacesetter Award for the largest sales increase in the Western Region.  Also in the Paint and Body department, Owens Interstate Sales sells industrial paint, windshields, PB&E supplies and in 2007, a new warehouse was constructed to house Keystone vehicle body parts.