How We Began...

It was June of 1999 and Amy and I were tired of antique malls...and we thought opening a store couldn't be that tough...or could it???  Finding the right location was HUGE and rather easy, as it turned out.  A spot opened up on Sumner's Main Street and we signed the dotted line.  It's funny, but we get asked all the time how long we had been friends, and to be honest, we had only met a couple years before we started this adventure.  We know now how lucky we are it all worked out.

About the building...it's located in the heart of historic downtown Sumner and in the beginning it was covered in grey indoor/outdoor carpeting.  EEK!  Once the carpeting was up we found the beautiful hardwood floors beneath.  They just needed some tlc.

Here's the space when we began - a long way to go!

Here's Corky and Amy staining the floors - it took awhile to cover 2,000 square feet!  Everyone had to take a turn.

Here's Les (Jeanine's husband) and I taking our turns!

We have been very lucky that since the day we opened we have had tremendous support from a group of amazing people - Sharon and Jerry Rody, Corky Wilkes and Jeanine Corey - our dealers, but more importantly, our friends!  What has made the stores' success so much more satisfying is that we've been able to share it with these special people!

How did we get the name? We get asked that question all the time. Here's the honest truth. Sharon and Jerry had the sign. It was from an old establishment in Puyallup and so, since it was the right price and we didn't have to order anything we became Country Store Antiques!

Rick (my husband) and Will (Amy's husband) are hanging the sign. We're nearly open for business!

Will built the counter and then later down the road he built even more counter. I don't know what we would have done without his mad building skills!

In the beginning we made due with all that we had! Mostly what we had was enthusiasm and a love of all things vintage - and thank goodness, that hasn't changed!

Things sure have changed - this is a picture of our kids in the beginning. My daughters, Abby and Libby; Sharon's granddaughter, Mackenzie, Amy's niece, Amanda and her little girl, Molly. They're all teenagers now - Abby's in college and Molly's in driver's ed! Where does the time go?

Here we are at one of the first Autumn Evenings! It all started as our anniversary celebration and after a few years of fun our Sumner neighbors asked us if they could join in and now, years later, it's one of Sumner's most successful events! In order: Amy, Me, Jeanine, Corky and Sharon.

Here's Jerry and Robert (Corky's husband) having a great time! We always get so much help from the fellas too!

Here we're enjoying a little Christmas cheer!

Corky, Jeanine and Sharon are really cheerful!

Amy and Jeanine at the celebration for Jeanine and Les's 50th Wedding Anniversary!

So, like I said before - we're a family. When you walk in our store we hope you feel as though you are visiting a "home" where people take great care to make you feel welcome. We want you to feel like you do when you visit a favorite family member - you can't wait to come back and visit!

-Kris