by Kim Gasuras, Freelance Author | FreeWire Magazine — Your News, Your Voice
BUCYRUS— Missie Striker and her sister, Mandy Paez, made their dream of bringing all of their businesses together under one roof a reality last fall. “Since becoming real estate agents, we envisioned a space where a real estate office could thrive alongside our other ventures,” said Striker.
Striker and Paez are both state-licensed auctioneers and real estate agents who initially launched their careers with a single auction business. They opened Castle Auction and Appraisals and the Castle Coin Shop in 2018, initially operating out of the building that now houses Ark Realty. From the beginning, they knew they wanted their businesses to complement one another. “When we decided to open an office, the first thing Missie said was that we needed a coin shop,” Paez said. “That is how the coin shop was born, and it has grown and flourished since then.”
In 2022, the sisters relocated to what they describe as their “forever location” at 132 S. Sandusky Ave., a building that once housed Romanoff’s Jewelry, a family-owned Bucyrus business that served the community for more than 60 years. Today, the building brings together Castle Auction and Appraisals, the Castle Coin Shop, and Paez’s real estate office with Key Realty. “We are all under one roof,” Paez said.
The division of roles comes naturally. Striker handles appraisals and auctions, Paez focuses on real estate, and their mother, Sarah Scott, manages the coin shop. “Our mom loves it,” Paez said. Scott, a certified numismatist who holds multiple certifications in the coin business, along with Striker, said she enjoys both the work and the people she meets. “I get to meet so many amazing people,” Scott said.
Striker said her interest in coins grew through her years in the auction business and continues to deepen. “There’s so much history behind each piece,” she said. “It’s interesting to learn about them and then share that history with our customers.”
Paez said real estate allows her to support clients through both joyful and emotional moments. “I love helping people find their forever home, but sometimes they’re also saying goodbye to a place filled with memories,” she said. “I’ve cried with clients, and I’ve celebrated with them. I just want to be there when they need me.”
Giving back to the community is a priority, and Striker said the sisters are involved in several charity auctions in the coming months. This Saturday (Jan. 24), Castle Auctions will handle the Make and Bake Auction sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 181, at 123 E. Rensselaer St., to benefit the Bucyrus Police Department K-9 Unit. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the auction beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Striker said other charity events they have coming up include the Scholarships for Success event at the Crawford Success Center, 130 N. Walnut St., on March 5 and the Rotary Auctionfest on April 18 to benefit Young Life. Some items for that auction have been listed on the Bucyrus Rotary’s Facebook Page.
“And, of course, the baked goods auction at the Crawford County Fair is always a fun time,” Striker said of the annual event held in July.
For more information about Castle Auctions and Appraisals, the Castle Coin Shop, and Mandy Paez at Key Realty, visit castleauctionappraisal.com
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