After years serving his country as a firefighter in the Air Force and later with the Department of Defense, Glen Robinson has returned to Owensboro with a new mission: helping local families save money on essential home appliances.
Robinson and his wife Sarah opened OBKY Scratch N Dent in mid-October at 201 East 9th Street, just across from the Owensboro Police Department. The store offers name-brand appliances — refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, and more — at approximately 50% off retail prices. Robinson said each item is brand new but may have minor cosmetic damage, making them more affordable while still reliable.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be selling appliances, but I definitely didn’t think I’d end up on the side of a mountain in Afghanistan, either,” Robinson said. “You just don’t know what life’s going to throw at you.”
After 8 years in the Air Force, including a deployment to Afghanistan, Robinson transitioned to working as a government firefighter at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. But once he and Sarah had children — they currently have two under the age of 4 — he decided to retire early and pursue something closer to home.
“This allowed me to retire, take a reduced pension, and be home more with the kids,” said Robinson, a 2001 graduate of Daviess County High School. “We both grew up here — she went to Catholic, I went to Daviess County— and it’s important to us to be part of this community.”
The business was initially appointment-only as Robinson learned the ropes, but he now has a full-time sales manager on-site and is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 12-5 p.m.
OBKY Scratch N Dent offers no-credit-needed financing, with options as low as $10 down. Robinson said that’s helped many families get what they need without breaking the bank.
They also offer delivery.
“It’s kind of cool because you’re helping people a little bit, too,” he said. “I had one woman who couldn’t get financing anywhere else. She was spending $50 a month doing laundry. With our plan, she got approved for a washing machine and now pays just $80 a month for something of her own.”
While most appliances are LG or GE, inventory rotates based on what’s available in each truckload. He said the store has built a following among local landlords looking for functional, affordable options for rental units, sometimes purchasing dozens at a time.
The store has also found ways to give back. Robinson donated a fridge to the Daviess County High School football program in exchange for billboard advertising and has helped churches and other groups in need.
“The community’s been great,” he said. “We just want to give folks a different option. New appliances at a used price — and a chance to help people in the process.”
For updates, promotions, and product availability, Robinson encourages customers to follow their Facebook page at OBKY Scratch N Dent.
