05/28/2026
Store Closing Update - Our last day open will now be Friday 5/29. I know I am only allowed one post per week on the community pages but I hope they make an exception under the circumstances.
On advice of counsel, we are closing the business as of Friday 5/29 at 5:00pm. I know this is a week earlier than we had planned.
Please read to the end for important information that may impact the rest of your life.
Ok, going to be vulnerable here and probably overshare. I know it is unprofessional but here goes I don't have anything to lose at this point. I am not much of a sharer but through our story may help someone out there feel a little less alone. I definitely do not want sympathy because I have a fantastic family, marriage, and friends so my life is full and happy.
My husband and I have had a very fortunate life where we had significant earning for years (through decades of hard work) and thought we had a great plan for retirement (401K, paid off vehicles, camper, toys) and had back-up plans and contingencies and then it seems like overnight, our financial world changed.
I have survived a brain hemorrhage in 2010, double breast cancer, a double mastectomy in 2020, multiple reconstruction surgeries, complex migraines that mimic strokes for decades, a tumor on my pituitary gland, fibromyalgia, and worked through it all. I was raised that you work hard every day.
Last year was the final blow. I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, and my knee had basically disintegrated. It went undiagnosed for a long time due to a doctor who kept insisting it was fine and did nothing until the pain got so bad that I went to Orthopedic Urgent Care and had a full knee replacement, found out I need to have the other one done as well as spine surgery. So, I had to retire from the career I had as a construction safety director.
Right after this my husband lost his job as a construction estimator when the company suddenly closed, so we went from $200k a year + benefits to $0 and had to pay $700 a month in COBRA in 3 months' time. He has since had to back to work in Seattle so we can keep our home and so he can help take care of me.
Due to all the chemotherapy, medications, and dang genetics I am losing my cognitive abilities very quickly. Many of you have probably noticed when I try to count change or focus at all.
I have applied for disability but got denied twice, because I didn't understand the system. (I have a great disability advocate who is helping me now)
So, me being a stubborn women insisted I was not ready to retire, so the family opened the store as something to "keep me busy". Due to my health and cognitive decline my husband, daughter, and grandkids, have been running the store almost entirely and I hang out and help when I can.
We are forced to file personal bankruptcy after exhausting all of our resources. The store was doing ok, sales are increasing, but we are heavily in debt, so we chose to include the business in the bankruptcy to get a fresh start. So, we need to close the doors, put everything in storage and leave the rest up to fate and a bankruptcy trustee.
So please forgive the short notice, we wanted to stay open as long as possible for our customers and vendors but have to do what we have to do. This si just the beginning of our new chapter.
We love this community (Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Athol, Post Falls, etc.) and want to thank you for your support.
The important message is life is short. Don't put off living life or enjoying every moment with your family and friends. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow. You can work your entire life thinking you will have plenty of money to retire and see all the places you want to see and do all the things you want to do. But for some of us, we won't physically be able to mountain climb, or scuba dive, or whatever your bucket list is. Many people I went to school with are already gone or they are fighting serious illnesses. I am hoping with my upcoming surgeries I can live a modified version of my dreams and be able to hold great grandbabies. My mom retired with money but nobody to travel with and she could barely walk so she had to give up many of the things she spent her whole life working for.
Dedicate your life to those you love and those who deserve it. Not to a job that promise you security. It could be gone tomorrow. Money will always be tight, so take the trip, start the class, take the chance. Don't wait for happily ever after, make it happy every day that you are lucky enough to wake up.
Go out and explore, have real face to face interactions and please shop local. There are many awesome families who need your support.
We love you all and look forward to seeing you int he community or if you would like to reach out to me personally, I would love to hang out.
14623 W Highway 53 in Rathdrum. Open today and tomorrow noon-5:00pm. Cash only!
