By Laurelle Walsh
John Wayne is back on the streets of Winthrop! Or, at least a life-size cardboard replica of the silver screen cowboy …
After a temporary winter closure — and a move into a new home on the boardwalk — Shotgun Nellies has reopened its doors in downtown Winthrop. The store’s John Wayne cutout welcomes all passers by.
The shop’s new address is 239 Riverside Ave., next door to the soon-to-reopen White Buck Antiques. In fact, Shotgun Nellies now occupies half of the White Buck storefront, with a newly remodeled 1,000-square-foot sales floor — more than double its former space, according to co-owners David and Nilsine Harris.
The Western-themed home decor and gift shop opened a year ago on Bridge Street and had a successful first year, said Nilsine Harris, Shotgun Nellies’ namesake. “We’d like to thank the locals for their support since the day we opened our doors,” she said.
The shop’s initial season was so successful, in fact, that after the iconic White Buck Trading Company and Museum closed last October, Shotgun Nellies’ owners saw a golden opportunity to move into the White Buck building. David Harris teamed up with the White Buck’s father/son team Kjell and John Lester to complete the partitioning and remodel of the new space over the winter.
“I’m so happy we’ve had this opportunity to get to know the Lesters,” Nilsine said. “Everything has gone so smoothly. We couldn’t ask for better landlords.”
David finished the interior, built shelving and counter space, and refinished glass display cases — part of the inventory Shotgun Nellies purchased from the White Buck. “This is all David,” Nilsine said, gesturing around the store.
Shotgun Nellies officially reopened on April 3, the same day the North Cascades Highway opened for the season.
Nilsine’s candle-making station is in the front part of the store, where customers can watch her make her line of scented palm-wax candles.
The shop also carries two other brands of candles as well as an eclectic assortment of home decor items such as wind chimes, wall art and table lamps. A wide variety of knives gleam in the well-lit cases, from masculine assist-opening blades to girly pink hunting knives. Shoppers will also find outdoor-themed gift items for hunters, fishermen and horse lovers.
The Harrises’ daughter Kindra joins her mother behind the counter. Shotgun Nellies is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Phone 996-8030 for more information.
