“Recently someone graciously referred to The Methow Store as a much needed third space in the valley. That really spoke to us and our original idea of creating a community gathering space,” wrote Shayne Naudi and Allen Giernet, reflecting on the second anniversary of revitalizing a community space in a restored 130-year old general store. “We intend to build on the concept of the old general store,” they said.
July marks the second year of the old Methow Store operating year-round. The first two years were celebrated with community events, locally grown foods and value-added products, along with art shows featuring local artists and book readings from local authors.
Within the last year the Methow Store began hosting lunches for Methow At Home outings, community discussions, dinners with live music and wine tastings, and art shows with The Confluence: Art in Twisp, and Josh Ross of Koshin Shodo art display.
Help celebrate the Methow Store’s second anniversary on Sunday (July 5) from noon-4 p.m. Live music will be part of the festivities.
This year began with a challenge: Shayne underwent hand surgery in January with a lengthy recovery. Amber and the team kept the daily operations of the store going: churning out freshly baked bread and serving up breakfast and lunch from Not-the-Café kitchen.
Spring brought new blooms to the Circle Park Garden, along with art celebrating the natural beauty of the Methow Valley. Steve Love handcrafted a second set of gates for the garden. The front gates feature a heron and sunflowers, the second set of gates are framed by a mountain scene. Dark Skies Week featured Jack McLeod’s stunning astrophotography at the store. Ashley Ahearn and her horse Boo read from her book, “The Little Black Mustang” and about Wild American Mustangs.
This summer the Methow Store will continue to host weekend brunches on Saturday and Sunday, and offer “grab-and-go” items from the cold cases. “Everyone is always welcome to enjoy these in our lovely garden or the store,” Shayne expressed, “More varieties of creatures, including humans are enjoying what was once a dusty, nail strewn gravel short cut to the post office.”
Shayne and Allen are looking forward to more musical evenings and dinner nights in the garden this summer, “We have plans to provide more music, art and poetry events featuring local talent.” For the store, they have plans to expand the hardware room, and selections of local art, books, and wares. Fresh veggies from the store garden takes center stage in the store.
Shayne recently started posting a “Random Musings” newsletter to share the latest happenings at the store and within the community. Sign up for the newsletter at www.methowstore.com.
For their Second Anniversary Celebration, The Methow Store is hosting “Art In The Park” on Sunday, July 5, from noon-4 p.m. Enjoy live jazz music with George Schneider and David Weidig, art from local artists, and wine tasting with Lost River Winery.
