New owners Tate Johnston, left, and Kyle Johnston took over Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe from Sheri and Doug Mohre last week.
Johnstons will take up where Mohres left off
By Don Nelson
Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe literally has recipes for success — baked goods, candy, sandwiches and, notably, ice cream are all made on-site.
The iconic store at the four-way stop in Winthrop is a hub of summertime activity, from early morning coffee until late into the evening.
Kyle and Tate Johnston came to love everything about Sheri’s in the years that they had been visiting the Methow Valley, where they have family connections. So when the young couple agreed to buy the store from Doug and Sheri (yes, there really is a Sheri) Mohre, they decided to change exactly nothing.
The Johnstons recently took over ownership and operation of Sheri’s, opening for the season on Friday (April 20). After 24 years, the Mohres are ready to hand the store off to enthusiastic, energetic new owners — but they are helping with the transition, and intend to stay in the valley.
Looking up and down Riverside Avenue, Mohre said he’d seen a lot of changes over the years, and that Sheri’s stability has paid off.
Happy to be here
That was part of the appeal for the Johnstons, who come to the valley with two children: Riley, 5, and Jamison, 2 ½. They’ve visited often — Kyle’s father Shawn and Shawn’s wife, Misuk, own the nearby Iron Horse store, which features hats, clothing, ironwork and other stylish items. Shawn and Misuk are partners in Sheri’s with Kyle and Tate.
After a military life of moving about as Kyle spent eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, the Johnstons say they’re delighted to be settling their family in the valley. Kyle had been working in retail before he and Tate became aware that Sheri’s was for sale. Working out the sale agreement took about a year.
“We jumped all over it,” Kyle said in an interview last week.
“This is a special place to raise a family,” Tate said. “We fell in love with it. It’s magical. We’re excited.”
Both of their children are at Little Star Montessori School.
“I can’t stress enough how much Doug and Sheri” have done to help the transition, Kyle said.
“It’s the same Sheri’s,” Kyle said. To demonstrate, an aproned Tate Johnson said she had been making truffles and would be “making ice cream tomorrow” in preparation for the opening.
Time to relax
“It’s time to enjoy life,” Doug Mohre said last week. Asked what he enjoyed most about nearly a quarter-century of making ice cream cones, cinnamon rolls and fudge, Mohre said, “it’s all about the people.”
“The customers have been absolutely incredible,” Mohre said. He said it was gratifying to see families creating memories, and to see familiar faces year after year.
“We’ve always stressed that we’re going to make things here,” Mohre said. For all the hard work and long hours, he said, “It’s been very enjoyable.”
Mohre still will organize the annual fireworks show the weekend after Thanksgiving, and he promises another great show this year. You also may see him as “The Candyman” in the ’49er Days parade.
The Mohres are confident in handing off their pride and joy to the Johnstons.
“They’ll do great,” Mohre said.
