From Zoom Calls to Junk Calls: The Story Behind Mooch’s
- Zachary Perez
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Some of my best childhood memories were made riding shotgun in my great-grandpa’s old truck, windows down, gravel roads kicking up dust behind us as we rolled through the backroads of McCune, Kansas. Mooch, that’s what everyone called him, was a scrapper by trade and a collector at heart.
He wore Key overalls every single day, even if it was 110 degrees out. Later in life, he always had a few pieces of Double Bubble in his pockets, ready to hand out to any kid nearby. That was just the kind of guy he was. Mooch never met a stranger. He’d stop and chat with folks at the gas station, diner, or wherever the road took him. Sometimes, even if he didn’t know you, he’d act like he had known you for years.
And if we were out on a long haul and nature called, well, Mooch wasn’t shy about finding a tree.
We’d haul off old scrap cars, combines, and metal from barns, load up tools from fence lines, and swing by estate sales in nearly every small town across southeast Kansas. His land was like something out of an American picker’s dream. Leaning barns were packed with bamboo fishing rods, marble jars, steel wagon wheels, crates of dusty vinyl, antique tools, and treasures from a time most folks forgot. You could spend hours just wandering, getting lost in all the stories.
More than anything though, Mooch loved to laugh. He had a great sense of humor, never took himself too seriously, and knew how to keep things light even on long, hot days of hard work.
Life, Tech, and the Turning Point
I grew up in Parsons, Kansas, but like a lot of folks, I chased opportunity out west after college. I spent nearly seven years in California building a career in tech sales. That’s where I met my wife. In 2020, we moved back to Kansas City, first Prairie Village, then Olathe, to build a life, raise our twins, and be closer to family.
Between 2020 and 2025, life was full. Marriage, babies, new jobs, first homes, and all the joy and chaos that comes with starting a family.
But I also got hit with not one, but two layoffs in that time. Both were completely unexpected with no warning or chance to course-correct. The first one in 2023 shook me. I started thinking about what kind of legacy I was building and whether I was actually in control of my future. That’s when I first thought about starting something of my own, something real.
The second layoff made it crystal clear. I didn’t want to be caught off guard again. I didn’t want my kids growing up watching me get bounced around by companies that didn’t really know me. I wanted to build something they could be proud of, and something that would honor the man who helped raise me.
How Mooch’s Junk Removal Got Started
I dusted off the idea I’d been sitting on and got to work. Mooch’s Junk Removal wasn’t just a business plan. It was a way to bring everything full circle. The name on the truck isn’t branding. It’s family.
We specialize in junk removal, plain and simple. Whether it’s furniture, yard debris, construction mess, attic cleanouts, or mystery piles in the garage, we’ll pretty much take anything. Except your husband or your kids.
More than what we haul, it’s how we show up that matters. We’re reliable, respectful, and fair. We treat your space like it’s our own and make the whole process easy from start to finish.
This Isn’t Just About Junk
We know that when someone invites us into their garage, backyard, or business, it’s not just about hauling stuff away. There’s a level of trust there and we don’t take that lightly.
It goes both ways. We honor the social side of this work. We show up with humility, without judgment, and with a willingness to listen. Sometimes it’s not just about the junk. It’s about the story behind it, the season someone’s closing, or the fresh start they’re stepping into.
From the fields of southeast Kansas to the driveways of Kansas City, this business is built on respect, service, and Kansas grit. I can still picture riding shotgun with Mooch, sweating through our overalls in the summer heat, working our tails off and laughing through it all.
Every time we pull up to a job, I feel that same sense of purpose — Mooch with that big grin, eyes locked in, ready to get the job done.
Thanks for trusting us.
Zach
Founder, Mooch’s Junk Removal
📱 Text or Call (415) 533-3160
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