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 new Rambler vehicles, as well as TV’s and appliances.

In 1968, Owens Interstate Sales became a Big A Auto Parts jobber, and for the first time was able to auto parts overnight.

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. Owens Interstate Sales also expanded their major appliance department at this time. 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 fourth generation to take part in the family business.

In March of 1999, Big A Auto Parts declared bankruptcy and was subsequently bought out. So, after 30 years of selling Big A parts, Owens Interstate Sales became a Carquest Auto Parts store. In the early 2000’s, the decision was made to grow the PPG Automotive Paint Dept. Owens became a PPG Platinum Dealer and in 2008 reached Platinum Plus status for the first time. In 2014, additional changes to the company occurred with Radio Shack declaring Chapter 11. Also, at that time, the decision was made to no longer sell major appliances or cellular phones.

In June 2024, the business changed their auto parts supplier once again, becoming an Auto Value parts store.Today, Owens Interstate Sales is highly invested in PPG Automotive Paints and Auto Body supplies, Auto Value auto parts, as well as having a full-time appliance repair department.

Many things have changed over the years, but there has been one constant, outstanding customer service. This is something that we expect out of every employee, and something that we must have to be successful.