Straight Up Doors to double in size after purchasing Southern Iowa Doors

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield company Straight Up Doors has announced that it has purchased Southern Iowa Doors of Batavia.

Straight Up Doors is a company that sells, installs and repairs overhead doors, which owners Rod and Bev Nelson started a decade ago. Rod Nelson said he and his wife approached the owners of Southern Iowa Doors, Tony and Bobbie McCarty, about acquiring their business when they were ready to retire. The McCartys have owned Southern Iowa Doors for 35 years, and in 2021, Tony told Rod that he was ready to sell.

The sale became final on Dec. 27. Rod said it represents a major step forward for his company.

“It will double the size of Straight Up Doors,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to provide the same great service that Tony provided for 35 years.”

Rod said customers will now have the option of choosing between Midland and C.H.I. doors, whereas Straight Up Doors previously offered only C.H.I. doors.

“They’re each a very good company,” Rod said. “Each one has their own strong market point, and it will give us the ability to offer more designs and color options.”

Tony and Bobbie McCarty operated from their home in Batavia. Rod said Straight Up Doors will inherit Southern Iowa Doors customers, and will continue to sell from its office in Fairfield. He said this acquisition will increase the company’s reach.

“To this point, we’ve mostly been contained to Jefferson County, but we’re planning to expand to adjoining counties,” Rod said.

Straight Up Doors has two employees, and Rod said the company hopes to hire two more.

“Our business continues to grow and get busier,” Rod said. “We’ve always stressed customer service and ensuring that our customers will be taken care of.”

Libertyville mayor

The past year was one of great change for Rod, who stepped down from his role as Libertyville’s mayor, a position he held for 12 years following six years on the city council. Rod said his decision not to seek re-election in 2021 was motivated by his business taking up more and more of his time. When he had the chance to expand it by acquiring Southern Iowa Doors, he knew that there would be too much on his plate to continue as mayor.

Rod said there were many positive developments that he is proud of during his tenure as mayor and as a member of the city council. In 2017, every home and business in the town was given the opportunity to connect to LISCO’s fiber-optic internet.

“We have a lot of folks who work from home, and that provides them with easy access to the internet,” Rod said. “They don’t subject to a satellite or dial-up system.”

Rod said he was also proud of the city doing a complete upgrade of its water tower and water distribution system.

“We tried to improve the town and make it a place where people wanted to live and raise their families,” he said.

The town went through a difficult period five years ago when the Fairfield Community School District announced it would close Libertyville Elementary School as a way to save money. The elementary students in Libertyville were sent to the two remaining elementary schools in Fairfield.

“The school closure was frustrating for us and definitely a detriment to the town,” Rod said. “You don’t realize how much of an economic driver the school is until it’s gone.”

Kevin Snyder was elected Libertyville’s new mayor in 2021. Snyder is also spearheading the remodeling of the former school building, which now houses three apartments.