Meet Sue & Jerry Parra | Junk Lovers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sue & Jerry Parra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sue & Jerry, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
To be honest with you, there really was no thought process. It was truly a God thing. In 1985 we were asked by a local businessman Marion Mifflin to look at a large building he had filled with miscellaneous “junk”. It was located in the center of Oracle on his property on American Ave. He had been purchasing abandoned storage units and storing the contents in this building. Mifflin wanted someone to come in and go through the boxes and sell it. We were up for that task and made a deal with him to do so. We loved junk and upcycling way back then and still do.
We opened the doors to the shop in December of 1985 and began selling these items for him on a consignment basis. It was “junk” and it was hard to sell. But eventually we began purchasing our own “cool junk” for the shop. We purchased from friends, family, yard sales, auctions and estate sales. Mifflin’s daughter Pat Johnson purchased the 3.5 acre property from her dad, then in 1995 we purchased it from her.

The shop has evolved over the last 38 years from a shop full of rejects from abandoned storage units to a shop full of western collectables, antiques, metal art and vintage finds. We were vintage before vintage was cool!
We specialize in unique items that you can’t find anywhere else. Metal art and antique farm equipment covers the property like a sculpture garden. We also have over 20 consigners. We have some great “pickers” who know what we love and keep our store filled with great items. Some of our best selling items the last few years are used cowboy boots and Levi jeans.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Our business, Sue & Jerry’s Trading Post is truly different things to different people. When you drive into our property you experience art in many forms. Larger than life sculptures, antique farm implements, beautiful brass beds, antique trunks & old grungy saddles….from trash to treasure. Rusty metal everywhere seems to make most people happy, I know it makes us very happy! And that basically is describing the driveway & parking lot.

When you enter the shop you will experience unique items, that might take you back to your childhood and your grandparents’ house. Antiques, collectables & vintage items will make you wonder about the stories they could tell.

But we really want to make people feel welcome and happy when they come in our shop. We do want them to have an experience they won’t forget. Our tagline is, “Oracle’s Most Unique Shopping Experience!”

We have overcome lots of challenges along the way in the close to 40 years we have been open. Mostly the ups and downs in the economy over the years. Maxing out credit cards to pay the mortgage and keep the doors open. Having to close our shop for 2 months during the pandemic was hard. But through all of the challenges we held on to our faith and trusted God. And looking back, God always turned the bad times & set backs around and opened up new ideas & dreams for us to focus on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oracle is truly a hidden treasure of amazing places. It would take a week to visit all the fun places and meet all the fun people. We would start at The Patio Cafe for a yummy outdoor breakfast. Then we would drive out to the Oracle State Park for a hike. Then head to the 3C Ranch and the Arizona Zipline Adventures to enjoy the most beautiful drive and views in the area. We would have to visit the new coffee club in Oracle, The Way of Bean.
We would have to tour the amazing & beautiful venue at El Rancho Robles. Then the magical fields at the Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm.
Shopping at Sue & Jerry’s Trading Post, where there are 3 other fun retail shops to visit…Zany’s Upcycle, Country Sweet Boutique & Ravens Rooste.
Then the Triangle L Ranch is a must visit historic ranch with acres of art and sculptures to see and buy.
More shopping for custom items at Imagination Plaza. A special dinner every night from DeMarcos take out pizzeria, Casa Rivera Mexican Food, Nona Marias Italian Restaurant, Ore House Hilltop Tavern or The Oracle Inn.
Also on Monday, lunch at the Oracle Community Center. And Wednesday evening fun, food & music at the Oracle Farmers Market at Sue & Jerry’s Trading Post!
WOW! What a week!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We obviously give God the Glory for our success and what our lives have become. Our special friend Pat Johnson, who sold us the business property decades ago, gave us the opportunity to dream and see our dreams actually happen! Our sons Ruben & Aaron and their families helped us and encouraged us along the way. Our friends, customers and the Oracle community supports us and without them we would not be one of the oldest local businesses in town!

Website: jerryparra.com

Instagram: @sueandjerrystradingpost

Facebook: Sue & Jerry’s Trading Post, Oracle Farmers Market at Sue & Jerry’s Trading Post

Other: visitoracle.org