Today's Country Store

Come See Us at Kristi's Country Store

Amy and I have settled into our new space at Kristi's Country Store - which, for those of you who don't know, is now located in our old Today's Country Store, 1008 Main Street, Sumner, WA  98390.  

Kristi took over the store February 1st after all of us had moved to our new locations within the building.  So, the store looks a little different, but all of the dealers are still here!

We are having a great time working in our new "booth" - so be sure to come in and see all the great new stuff we have in the store.

The new hours for Kristi's Country Store are: Monday through Saturday 10 - 5, and Sunday noon - 4.  Be sure to come visit soon!

And if you come by this weekend, Amy and I have the stuff in our space 15% Off.  We are joined in this sale by a few other dealers - so if you're looking for a bargain, you need to make it into Kristi's Country Store by Monday, February 20th - for our big sale.

Thanks for the Memories!

It's hard to believe that it's been 12 1/2 years!  We haven't aged a bit!  HaHa!  In addition to Amy and I - there are three wonderful ladies who have been in the store since the very first day we opened!  So on Tuesday night, before we turned our keys over to the new owner, we raised a glass to the five original Country Store Girls - Sharon Rody, Corky Wilkes and Jeanine Corey!  Ladies - it's been a blast! 

Remember, the store is open for business - so be sure to check it out!  You won't believe how much stuff Amy and I could fit into 200 square feet!!

Time for a Party!

Our wonderful neighbors in Sumner are throwing us a "going away" party - so we've decided to include all of you - our loyal customers!  So please join us Tuesday, January 31st after 5:30 p.m. But remember - we're not really "going away" we're just moving on...our stuff will still be in the store and we'll be at lots of shows!  You'll hardly know we're gone...  The store may look a little weird that night, but we've actually got lots of great stuff to fill our new space - so come get the first look!

When we first opened in 1999 we had a couple stools on the outside of the counter where customers could sit and wait while making their purchase.  Little did we know that this would be the beginning of what I call the "Cheers Bar Phenomenon".  Since the very beginning our store has felt like a home away from home for us and it seems, for many of you too. I can't tell you how often we hear from folks "Can I just live in here?"  I've come to realize over time that it's because of what we sell.  An antiques store is different from ALL other stores in one very special way. What we sell reminds people of an earlier time in their life - it could be the bowl where grandma made bread; or the lamp that looks just like one in Aunt Aggie's basement; or the vanity that was in their "little girl" bedroom.  And with that memory comes emotion - more often then not a big smile appears and there's a sense of delight.  What could be more wonderful then to bring an unexpected delight to your customers day??

And then the "Cheers Bar Phenomenon" appears and the stories begin.  We have heard hundreds - maybe thousands of stories from folks who were reminded of a time in their lives just by seeing something we have in the store. We've heard love stories, war stories; heartbreaking stories and wild west stories; stories of surviving the great depression and stories from far away places.  Sometimes the storyteller is surprised by their own ability to remember because "they haven't thought about that for years"...I think I'll miss those stories the most. 

In 12 1/2 years we have watched toddlers become teenagers, moms grow to be grandmas; we've been there to help folks fill their houses with treasures only to have them "size down" years later so they could become snowbirds.  We've noticed when particularly sweet customers no longer come in - like the little elderly lady who used to bring me recipes all the time or the darling man who took the bus from Auburn because he couldn't see to drive just so he could buy our old magazines to get ideas for his garden cutouts...  We may not always remember everyone's name, but we can usually remember what you are looking for!  There's the guy that buys his wife brown transferware EVERY Christmas or the stately woman who loves everything Victorian or the couple who were looking for just the right farm table for about seven years...you get the picture...we remember YOU.

And we will miss you.

~Kris

So please join us one last time at the store, Tuesday the 31st after 5:30 p.m. - by then Amy and I will be ready for some food, fun and friends!!  

Winter White Night Out CANCELLED

Due to a power outage in Sumner

Winter White Night Out

is CANCELLED

It was rescheduled for Friday, January 20th

but at this time we are canceling it.

Please watch for future posts regarding a

possible rescheduled date.

Be safe out there!!

So about the Winter White Night...

Winter White Night Out

POSTPONED to Friday, January 20th

5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Same great food, same great wine, same great friends and fun

just a new night -

because we're afraid it's just a little

too wintery and a lot too white!

Change is in the Air

It's time for our WINTER WHITE NIGHT OUT

Thursday, January 19th from 5 - 8 p.m.

As always we will have great food, wine and lots of friends - oh and some shopping too!

Now about those changes...

it is with mixed emotions that Amy and I announce this is the last event we will be throwing at Today's Country Store.  As of February 1st the store's name will change and we will simply become dealers.  Now - don't panic!  We will continue to bring in fabulous and fun antiques - in fact, now that we'll have an opportunity to travel we will be bringing in MORE!!

Many of you know that we have been planning a change for some time now, and this is it! We have a busy show schedule this year, including Junk Salvation in Hillsboro, Oregon; Ruffles & Rust, Farm Chicks, Barn House and more - and all this in addition to our space in Portland's most fabulous mall - Monticello's.  So honestly, it is time for us to pass the store on to someone new.

As I write this I find myself getting a little emotional.  Amy and I opened the store in July of 1999 and had no idea how long we'd call Sumner home.  Now, 12 1/2 years later it's a little scarey to think of moving on.  I'm sure my car will automatically drive to Sumner a time or two before I realize I don't work there any more.  And now about that...it will be bittersweet when February 1st comes - because we'll have the time to do all the things we've wanted to for so long, but WE WILL miss our wonderful customers so very much!  

So PLEASE join us Thursday, January 19th from 5:00 to whenever we get outta there! We would love to see you and thank you for supporting us all of these years! 

It's a Wonderful Life!

It's time once again for our Vintage Christmas Open House - this Thursday, December 8th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.  As always, the store is full of Christmas treasures. This is one of our favorite nights of the year that we share with our customers.  We dim the lights, bring out some food for the soul and fill your glasses with cheer!  So join us for this special night and take home a gift with every purchase! 

We get told all the time how a visit to our store inspires folks for the season - and how our little town of Sumner is reminiscent of the famous movie town of Bedford Falls!  So relax this holiday, treat yourself to some old fashioned fun and remember...It's a Wonderful Life!

Shop Small Business Saturday!

First I need to say THANK YOU for all the support you have given our small business over the years!  This Saturday is the second annual Small Business Saturday sponsored by American Express.  Whether you are an American Express customer or not - you can show your support to your favorite "mom and pop" shops all over the country by shopping them this Saturday, November 26th!  If you are an American Express customer learn how to receive a $25 credit on your next statement by clicking on  American Express supports small businesses.

Statistics show that money spent in small businesses stays in the local community!

For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures.  If you spend that in a national chain only $43 stays here.  Spend it online and nothing comes home!  To learn more about this be sure to click on our 3/50 project link to the right.

Come visit Sumner this weekend!

Friday - November 25th - Sumner's Bridge Lighting and Fireworks - starting about 5:00 p.m. 

Saturday - November 26th - Small Business Saturday - Opening early! 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Open Sunday - November 27th - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Today's Country Store!  

It's Looking More Like Christmas Every Day!

Check out our vintage Christmas this year - we just keep unpacking box after box after box!

Remember our Hometown Holiday Celebration

Saturday, November 12th, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

We welcome one more new dealer to our family - April!  She is a recent transplant from Texas and has wonderful vintage clothes (she even made her own little dressing room).  We are thrilled to offer our customers something fresh and different.

We just put this beautiful Cinderella-esq dress in the window - it's stopping traffic it's so fabulous!

Hometown Holiday Celebration

Sumner is kicking off the holiday season with our annual Hometown Holiday Celebration - Saturday, November 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Shops throughout the town will be decked out for Christmas - including us! 

So be sure to save the date and put a visit to our store on your "To Do List" for next Saturday and join us for some pre-Christmas cheer!

Come see us at Ruffles & Rust!

Amy and I just got home from setting up our booth at the fabulous Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market!  It was a long day - but it's always so fun to see the finished product. We usually have a "plan" before we start - but honestly it never really ends up looking like we thought - it's BETTER!  If you have time Saturday make your way to the Monroe Fairgrounds - the show opens at 9:00 a.m. and goes until 4:00 p.m.  You won't be sorry - this is a fabulously fun show with some of the premier dealers in our area.  Admission is $8 - but if you stop by the shop you can pick up a $3 off coupon!! Hope to see you there!

 

Tonight's the Night!

We're open late tonight from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. just so you can come check out all the great "old" stuff we have for fall!  

Come meet our four new awesome dealers and see all the treasures they have brought - the place is PACKED!!!

We'll have lots of yummy eats and specials throughout the store!  So come get INSPIRED!!!

Come Meet our New Dealers!!

You are invited to our

Fall Preview Meet & Greet

this Thursday, September 22nd from

5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

we are thrilled to introduce our four

new dealers with all their great

"old" stuff!

Welcome to Mindy, Shannon,

Emily & Catt

(formerly of She Sells Seashells in Gig Harbor)

So mark your calendar and join us for

a great night of treasures & treats!

Specials throughout the store.

Monticello's Fall Premier Show

Okay - so is it REALLY Fall???  You wouldn't know it by the weather!  But Summer is better late than never - and I'm not complaining.  Okay, maybe I'll complain a little because it was 90 degrees yesterday while Amy and I spent a LONG 18 hour day moving into our new space at the Monticello's Fall Show. 

We are soooo excited to have been asked back - AND with our new fabulous space in the "Barn!"  Yesterday was alot of work, but we are thrilled with the final look! If you get a chance to visit - this store is amazing and we recommend you go!  

Monticello's Antiques

8600 SE Stark Street

Portland, OR

Open Monday - Saturday 10 - 6 p.m., Sundays 11 - 5 p.m.

Bewitching Craft Project!

Halloween is just around the corner!!

We are hosting our first ever soldering class - taught by one of our jewelry artists, Elizabeth Johnson!

The class is Friday, October 7th from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.  

Elizabeth will be showing the students how to make a bewitching charm (pictured above)!

The cost is $75 and includes the instruction, ALL the materials, including the use of a soldering iron and of course appetizers and wine too!

We will accept checks, cash and we can also take credit cards.

Call the store to arrange for payment and reserve your space today!!

(253)826-6646

Time For Some Late Night Fun!!

It appears girls have always "just wanted to have fun!"

And to this day this contraption is still a girls REAL best friend!

The store has lots of great "girly" stuff right now, so it's a perfect time to have our first ever Girls Night Out - this Friday, August 19th, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Doesn't this dickie look like something Sandy would have worn under her cotton candy pink cardigan in Grease???

"We're rough, we're tough, we're feelin' fine - we're the class of '79!" (And we're all turnin' 50 this year... HA!)

We love doing these late night shopping events FOR YOU - so join us Friday night for some fabulous shopping, food and fun! And be sure to ...

So hope to see you Friday night.  Just a heads up that we aren't the only shop in town that will be open late - many of our neighbors will also be staying open late for your shopping convenience!

Girls Night Out!!

It's time for our first ever Girls Night Out!

This Friday, August 19th, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The store is full of treasures for your shopping pleasure! (I rhymed - ha!)

Enjoy some great food, fun friends and a glass of wine!

We'll be giving away a special treat with purchase.

Can't wait to see you!

Kris & Amy

1008 Main St. 

Sumner, WA 98390

(253826-6646

Summer in Sumner!!!

One of the best parts about owning a store in Sumner is SUMNER!  This last weekend we held our first ever RHUBARB DAYS!  Hundreds of rhubarb lovers joined in the fun! We had an old fashioned Bake Off; a pie eating contest, games for kids and more!   Here are some of our "Aprons as Art" - many from the Ryan House Museum, just down the street from our store. 

The park was full of wonderful vintage tractors!

What a cutie - a farmer in training.

It's summertime inside the store too!!  We've still got Tag Sale prices on great stuff!  (Sorry, we just sold this bike!)

Aprons, aprons - everywhere!

Can't you just see these skates on the feet of a little one in pig tails while practicing for the day she can deliver root beer floats!! 

So make plans for a trip to Sumner this summer!  Remember our store hours have changed - we are now open Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.        Closed on Mondays (Open by chance!)

Seeya soon!

 

12th Annual Tag Sale - June 25th

It's that time of year again!!

Our 12th Annual Tag Sale

Saturday, June 25th

Open Early - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS

 10 - 75% OFF!!

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SALE!

As an FYI - our new store hours are Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Open Mondays by chance!  But remember, for our Tag Sale we will open early at 9:00 a.m.

    

 

Farmchicks Eye Candy!

 

It's taken nearly a week for Amy and I to get all these photos up - sorry!  Speaking of taking a while...how come we always think we are ahead of the pace when we put a booth together until we look at our watch with about an hour to go and we find ourselves FREAKING OUT! This year was no exception.  Our booth may look good here - but you should have seen what it looked like just an hour before!

 

 

 
 

After Amy's unexpected allergic reaction to we-still-don't-know-what and my graceless tumble we were finished with our booth and ready to venture out to see the rest of the show!

 

And oh my goodness!  People outdid themselves this year!  Here's what Lisa Souers put together!

Queen of Tart Cindy went fun, flirty and fabulous!

Letters, letters, everywhere!!

 

 

These are from our good friends Dixie and Linda, the Junk Salvation Girls.  Their first time at Farmchicks and they were awesome!

Our darling new neighbor, Jennifer from Spokane's Funky Junk Show has way too much energy.  Oh to be young again!!  And below you'll see her absolutely adorable little guy, Glenn Kelly.  Wendy and I competed for baby time! 

 

As always our Portland buddy Lisa, from A Thing For Roses, filled her booth with pink pretties!

 

And JohnBob - what can we say - you two are masters of decor.

Debbie Bock looks like she had fun putting her Garden Party together this year!

Here's my old buddy Stacy Grega and her beautiful daughter Riley.  This was a special treat for me (Kris) personally, as Riley and my daughter Libby went to elementary school together - so in addition to our love of antiques - Stacy and I have shared many field trips and birthday parties together over the years!  Hard to believe they are all grown up!!

Dixie and Amy at the after party!

 
Here's Wendy with her husband Gary - relaxing at dinner.  Gary joined us this year and we couldn't have done it without him!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Gary!!!

Diane, Amy and Mindy Hill - one of our amazing customers who travelled over the mountains to join in the fun!


 
Ki  Nassauer from The Junk Bonanza show in Minnnesota was there signing her Flea Market style magazine. We had a chance to talk with her about her show and she Juried us on the spot and invited us to do her show next September! Minnesota is Kris's favorite place on earth since that is where her family is from.   

Okay - I could have at least smiled...ugh!!!

Here we are - me, Wendy, our very energetic neighbor,  Jennifer and Amy just before the fun began Saturday morning!   

 
One last spin around the show before the mayhem began and Amy visits the Lipstick Gypsy's cute booth.

And takes a couple last minute pictures of our final product...not bad!
.
As always, we had a wonderful time and are so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this fabulous show!  We just wish there was more time to see all our Farmchick Friends from near and far!  There's always next year!  Seeya then!

 

PROUD TO BE A FARMCHICK!

Here we are last year in front of the Farmchick dairy truck!

 We are honored once again to be part of this MAGNIFICANT Show! It sounds like Serena has gone all out this year,  even King 5's evening magazine is going to be there! So we sure hope you are going to be there too!

We have been packing and hoarding great stuff all year long for the one and only FABULOUS Farm Chicks Antique show in Spokane! June 4th and 5th www.farmchicks.com. We are in our same location bay 2 booths 90,91,and 92 to the right of the main entrance smack dab in the middle of the building! Please stop by and say Hi!

GET YOUR JUNK SALVATION COUPON HERE

It's that time again The Funky Junk Sisters are putting on another one of their fun shows this coming Friday and Saturday May 13th and 14th in Puyallup! 
                                 **** Print this coupon off and save a BUCK!**

Happy Mother's Day!!

To all our wonderful Moms out there we'd like to say

"Have a great day!"

It's Garden Party Time!

You are all invited to join us Thursday, April 28th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. for our Second Annual Garden Party!

Bring your friends and come out enjoy our great vintage garden treasures, good company, some yummy food and a special gift with every purchase!   We can't wait to see you!  If you can't make it Thursday evening - we'll have "Garden Specials" throughout the weekend!

 

 

Come see us at Monticello's Home and Garden Show

We are honored to be Guest Vendors at the Home and Garden Show at Monticello's Antique Market in Portland , Oregon.
For more info go to www.monticelloantiques.blogspot.com 
Here are a few shots of our booth We just heard it was an AMAZING weekend, so we are headed back down to Portland in the Morning to restock!
 There is a HUGE  selection of FABULOUS garden decor and wonderful antiques
 
So please come and see us in Portland, the show runs for 7 weeks! With fresh finds coming in everyday, plus an amazing Antique Market Place that is open everyday and full of Wonderful dealers with fab stuff!