Emily and Gideon Boender take over ownership of Sully Locker and Market on Jan. 2, 2025. Later this month, the young family, which includes daughter Oakley, will move north of Sully.
Sully Locker and Market, a cornerstone business in the community for nearly 80 years, will start the new year with new owners at the helm. Gideon and Emily Boender are ready to carve their names and imprint on the community as they take over ownership of Sully Locker and Market from Rick and Cheryl Nikkel on Jan. 2.
Gideon, 22, and Emily, 21, are high school sweethearts who graduated from Pella Christian. One month before their August 2023 wedding, Gideon started working for Rick and Cheryl at Sully Locker and Market. His position, the industry, and the customers made such an impact that he and his wife jumped at the opportunity to own the thriving business when the opportunity presented itself. Rick and Cheryl have owned the business since 2020 and have overseen its growth the past five years. The locker currently employs 18 people, including Rick and Cheryl. The Nikkels plan to stay on board and be familiar faces at the locker, however their responsibilities will be reduced significantly. Rick and Cheryl are committed to training the Boenders and assisting where needed to ensure the transition of ownership is seamless and the locker continues to thrive.
The Boenders are eager to kick off the new year by taking on the responsibilities of ownership of the successful business. Gideon has had a hand in the preparing and cutting aspect of every product that has gone out the door in the last year. In the last six months, he has slowly integrated into the administrative side of the business. Emily will join the staff and work mainly in the office and manage the grocery side of the business. Gideon’s younger sister, Rachel, will also be a new face at Sully Locker and Market. Later this month, Gideon, Emily, and their six-month-old baby girl, Oakley, will move north of Sully as they make the L-S community not only their workplace home but also their permanent residence.
“We are excited to carry on the legacy that Rick and Cheryl have started and are thankful for their trust and help. We’re also excited to become more involved and integrated with this community,” said Gideon.
The Boenders bring new, young energy to Sully Locker and Market yet recognize the strong values, products, and service that has drawn customers to the business for nearly 80 years. Everything will remain the same in terms of what is offered, from the high-quality meat products, soups, and grocery offerings to the unique and seasonal decor. They will also continue to sell quality meat and products from their storefront in Ankeny, Sully Meat Market. The Boenders will honor all gift cards that have been issued, and every slaughter date that has already been scheduled will be fulfilled.
Sully Locker and Market originally began as Community Lockers back in 1946. A.P. “Tone” Vander Beek and Everett Jackson constructed the building at 407 7th Avenue in Sully and opened in October of 1946. Nelson Terpstra became the third partner of the business when he was looking for a job after coming home from war in 1945. Over the years, Community Lockers became Sully Community Locker and was owned and operated by a family partnership consisting of heirs of the late Vander Beek. In 1984, Warren Terpstra, who still resides in Sully today with his wife Alma, purchased 5/8 of the business that was owned by his father, the late Nelson Terpstra. Warren had nine business partners – all family – and worked at the family-owned business for 33 years. In September of 2012, the multi-generation, full-service meat market was sold to Jared and Stacey Nikkel. This change of ownership was monumental given Jared and Stacey were the only people outside the heirs of the original owners to own the business in its 66-year existence.
Jared and Stacey were at the helm through tremendous change, including a fire on Oct. 16, 2016, that destroyed the building just off the Sully square. The blaze forced Jared and Stacey into making big decisions that ultimately led to a new place for the locker to call home. Jared and Stacey purchased the current building at 11892 Highway F62 East in Sully from Garden Chapel Funeral Home. They extensively renovated the building as well as added a 4,200-square-foot addition that expanded the east, west, and north sides. In addition to the added space and offerings, the locker got a new name – Sully Locker and Market – and officially opened for business at its new location in December of 2017. The next owners, Rick and Cheryl Nikkel, purchased the business from Jared and Stacey amidst a global pandemic in April of 2020. In their nearly five-year span of ownership, they have added their personal touch, expanded offerings, and added a storefront in Ankeny, Sully Meat Market, where they sell quality meat products and sweet treats from La Rose Marie Bakery.
