Shafer Electronics Co history

Schaefer’s was founded in 1946 as a corner drug store in downtown (13th & F) Lincoln, Nebraska by David Schaefer and his son-in-law Frank Romero.

Schaefer Enterprises began in 1951 when a group of dedicated parents joined together to create a program for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

On March 17, 1952, the organization officially became incorporated and was known at that time as the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Weld County.

The famous Arden House Workshops were started in 1968.

1972 Ron Romero, Frank’s son, joined the Company and soon added appliances, making Schaefer’s a full-line television and appliance store.

Schafer became a full professor at Georgia Tech in 1974 and later co-authored a textbook on digital processing with Larry Rabiner.

Schafer's Digital Signal Processing collaboration with Alan Oppenheim was published in 1975.

August of 1982, a second company was founded, Schaefer’s Appliance Service Center, Inc.

October of 1983, a second retail location in mid-town (48th & R), Lincoln, Nebraska was purchased for appliance and television sales.

June of 1989, remodeling and expansion began on this building taking the facility from 5,000 sq. ft. to 22,000 sq. ft.

Summer of 1992, once again, Schaefer’s underwent remodeling and expansion to add a complete home audio department and home theater room.

RON SCHAFER: An Interview Conducted by Richard Nebeker, Center for the History of Electrical Engineering, 14 May 1998

November 2000, it was realized Schaefer’s had outgrown its warehouse facilities as well as its appliance service center facilities.