05/02/2015
As owner of Killmer's Kountry Store, I Ralph Killmer, and my manager, Susie Hodson, announce with great regret and sorrow that Killmers is no longer open for business. Please understand that this was not our choice.
This store has been open as a bait store for 50 years! How many small businesses make it that long?! We have enjoyed serving our loyal customers. It was always great to see the excitement on the face of a child headed to the lake to catch some fish. I cannot tell you how many times we have heard, "I used to come here when I was a kid!" It is always exciting when someone spots their picture on the ceiling from 20 years ago. In addition, we have made many friends from the Wheatfields area that we will miss dearly. Some were more like family. Many of them would drop anything that they were doing to help out in times of need, from fixing broken machinery to working on vehicles. We could never thank you enough for the friendship you have shown.
It was always difficult to keep the store open during the winter months. Most days we did not make enough to pay the bills. But we survived another long winter, and we were on our way to another successful fishing season! We understand that this could not have happened at a worse time.
No employer could ever ask for better employees, as the ones I had here, Natalie, Julee and Susie. Some of them have expressed their feelings on this page. We all feel many different emotions about this situation. I would like to say that I have no hard feelings against the property owners. They did what they thought was right. They may have bigger and better plans for this little store. Who knows. Only time will tell.
In the meantime, we are in the process of seeking another location to serve your bait and tackle needs, and we may even expand our inventory. Please follow us on this page for updates as they come.
We thank you so very much for your loyalty to Killmers, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Ralph Killmer