By Lori EhdeM-M Distributing is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week, and Merlyn and Lynn Lopau say they’re glad to have done business all these years in Luverne."We love Luverne," Lynn said. "We think it’s a wonderful town."Lynn’s brother, John McCallum Jr, Pipestone, and the Lopaus own M-M Distributing Luverne, and there are also M-M stores in Pipestone and Slayton.Lynn’s father, the late John McCallum, started the first store in Pipestone in 1956, and in June of 1965, J-M opened in a small storefront on Main Street Luverne. "We sold rope, farm supplies and a few toys and housewares," Lynn said. M-M was named for Lynn’s mother, Majorie McCallum, and J-M was named for John McCallum and Merlyn Lopau.J-M was located in the former Les’ Foodland, now the Kaczrowski Dental Office. "I was just a teenager, Merlyn was 21, and my brother was still in college at the U of M," Lynn said. "We were really just kids. … People would come into the store and ask if they could talk to our dad."Ben Hendricks, Edgerton, was their employee at the time but was often mistaken for the one in charge because he was older. Alice Nelson, Luverne, was their other employee when they first started doing business in Luverne.In 1968, the business moved a couple of blocks south to the former International implement building. It was where the new Glen’s Food Center is now located.In 1974, a new 20,000-square-foot store was built at the current location on West Hatting Street. "It was a lot of work, but an exciting time for all of us," Lynn said. That was about the same time the McCallum family opened the Slayton location, and the owners decided to name all three stores M-M Distributing."People still call it J-M," Lynn said. "I still get mail addressed to J-M."The new store opened during a booming farming economy and at a time when people shopped at home."It was a wonderful time for these small towns," Lynn said. "There weren’t any Wal-Marts or any big box stores. … It was a whole different way of living."Merlyn said one reason the business has survived the changing economy is customer service."We’ve tried to maintain personal service," he said. "That’s our niche. People know we’ll be here to stand behind our products."That approach to doing business has paid off for the Lopaus."We have a lot of loyal customers," Merlyn said.In response to increasing competition from Worthington and Sioux Falls, M-M stores diversified their offerings.In the early years, the M-M stores dealt primarily in farm supplies, but now M-M carries sporting goods, paint, all kinds of hardware, auto supplies, housewares and health and beauty products, as well as clothing for the entire family."We specialize in work boots, work clothes and outerwear," Lynn said.In the spring the M-M greenhouse, especially, has become a mainstay for revenue. "That’s become our Christmas here," Lynn said. "Except this has been a rough spring. … People want to plant when it’s sunny."Also, a full-service, small engine repair and tire shop occupies part of a 4,000 square foot addition that was built on the south end of the store in 1980.In addition to economic challenges, the Lopaus remember computer technology being a major hurdle."There have been some pretty hairy moments when the computers crashed (in a power outage) and customers are backed up at the checkout counter," Lynn said. At times like those, they longed for the old days of price tags on merchandise, but they said they’ve come to rely on computers.Merlyn and Lynn said their employees have played a big role in the business."We’ve had a lot of really wonderful employees through the years," Lynn said. "They’ve become family to us."M-M in Luverne employs six people full-time and about 10 more part-time. Merlyn and Lynn said Manager Cliff Enninga has contributed a great deal to the business. He’s worked for M-M for 26 years and manages the greenhouse.Looking back, the Lopaus say they have no regrets for investing so much in a business in Luverne."We are proud of our town," Merlyn said. "It’s a growing place with lots to look forward to. The future is going to be good for Luverne."They have two children, Scott, Pipestone, and Beth Blake, Waseca, who grew up helping in the store.An anniversary celebration will include free ice cream on Thursday, June 9. Rock County Dairy Princess Lindsay Brands works for M-M and will be on hand to serve ice cream to customers starting at 3 p.m.Also, thousands of dollars in door prizes and cash will be given away over a two-week period starting June 6.