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impact on the White Room’s presence in the community. At night, when Thomas is working to get the new space in order, passersby are already tapping on the window, and just sitting outside the new space – connected to Amazing Crepes and neighboring the Red Caboose – one can hear conversation from window shoppers about the new spot.
The new location offers Thomas and his crew not only a chance to bring in more customers due to the foot traf- fic along Central Avenue, but also to become one of the headquarters of ski culture in a ski town.
Though the space is barely stocked – Thomas estimated on Oct. 9 that he had about 5 percent of his total merchan- dise inside, and expected to be fully up and moving in about a month – Thomas already has big plans.
“It’s not only a retail space, it’s an experience,” Thomas said.
He redesigned the interior of the building space, creating more of a separation between his shop and the creperie, though there is still a door in the wall between them allowing for customers in both businesses to flow between them.
Thomas is also in contact with the Stumptown Historical Society to potentially showcase pieces of White- fish’s ski history in his shop; he has col- lected classic skis for years, which will help with decorating the space, and the shop also used original decking from the Whitefish train depot to build countertops.
The idea is to be that one, local ski shop you can always find in ski towns, Thomas said, the place that gives an idea of what it means to be in Whitefish, of what skiing and the outdoors mean to a place like this.
“It all goes back to it’s more than just retail,” Thomas said.
Inside, the White Room’s new loca- tion is a bit more snug than the last, but it will actually provide better services, he said, because there are three ski benches for tuning and tech work com- pared to just one at the Lupfer store.
Thomas hopes to add a new aspect called the Skier’s Easel, where athletes who are also artists can showcase there work, and the White Room can partici- pate in downtown Whitefish events like art walks.
The official 10-year anniversary celebration will happen some time in November, and the White Room also plans on presenting ski movies.
It’s a big change, but Thomas is con- fident it’s the right one for his business. Plenty has changed in the last 10 years anyway, and Thomas sees only poten- tial, like a skier who managed to catch the first lift of the day sees only fresh snow in which to make his mark.
“It’s going to become something very special that I feel the town of Whitefish deserves,” Thomas said.
The White Room Mountain Shop is located at 119 Central Ave. For more information, visit www.whiterooms- hop.com.
[email protected]
TRANSACTIONS
WEEKLY BUSINESS BRIEFING
Free
Get Your
FVCC
taken with
FVCC Alumni and Friends
GREAT NORTHERN LOGWORKS OPENS NEW SHOWROOM
Kalispell’s Great Northern Logworks, a source of rustic log furniture and home decor, has opened a new showroom store in the valley.
The store’s co-owners, brothers Rob and Roger Crowell, have been creating rustic log pieces for decades, and report a recent rapid growth and business expansion. Their furni- ture ranges from sturdy and affordable pine log bed frames to unique, custom creations, such as gnarly aspen log beds.
The showroom store is located in Evergreen at 2477 U.S. Highway 2 E., about three-quar- ters of a mile north of Reserve Drive.
Their chainsaw creations, ranging from howling wolves to Sasquatches, can be found in homes across the Flathead Valley, the U.S., and Canada.
To celebrate the new store, Great Northern Logworks hosted an open house at their new location on Oct. 10. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/greatnorthernlogworks.
Opening, moving or expanding a business in Northwest Montana? If you would like to be featured in “Transactions,” please email information to [email protected]
Lakeside’s best kept secrets for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner!
SOCIAL
Thursday, October 22
featuring
gReAT FOOd And mICRObRewS
from Tamarack Brewing Company
LIVe ‘80S hITS & mORe
by FVCC Faculty nick Spear of the new wave Time Trippers
and a 50/50 raffle to support FVCC student scholarships!
Each guest 21 years old or older will receive one complimentary Tamarack beer. Additional bar beverages will be available for purchase.
FVCCgraduates,formerstudentsandfriendsofthecollegewelcome. Bringyourfamily!
giveaways!
the FVCC Mascot!
Join us for some fun!
The RACk ShACk
5480 US Highway 93 South Somers, MT
Want more info? Call 756-4181 or email [email protected].
farmhouse
FARMHOUSE
406.844.0610
306 Stoner Loop In the Lakeside Town Center
Fresh, locally sourced breakfast and lunch
8am-2pm Daily
TAMARACK
406.844.0244 105 Blacktail Rd.
On Stoner Creek behind Sliters Ace Hardware
Serving lunch, dinner & craft brewed beer from:
11am-10pm Daily
SEVEN
406.407.1455
306 Stoner Loop
In the Lakeside Town Center
Seasonally & regionally inspired dinner & spirituous drink
5pm-10pm Tue - Sat
6-8 p.m.
Tickets:
$15 in advance
Purchase online at
www.fvcc.edu/alumnisocial
or in the FVCC Foundation Office in Blake Hall, M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 at the door
PICTURE
TImbeR
OCTOBER 14, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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