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 Small Town Creations offers the same inventory of
Beans & Such, plus they have purchased the business formerly known
as the Award Shop where they make trophies, plaques and much more,
all specifically created to customer needs.
It’s been a tough weather week in Lincoln and for Kathie that made
getting ready for the Friday ribbon cut and the Saturday open house
a little challenging. She noted that with people shut in or
unwilling to get out of the house with the terribly cold weather on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and even Thursday, Friday ended up being a very
busy day in the shop. Kathie noted she was a bit concerned about
being able to get everything done, but then it was family to the
rescue.
Though Small Town Creations is managed most of the time by Kathie
alone, she had noted that family has been very supportive all along
in this venture. So, it came as no surprise that it was family who
showed up to help out of Friday. Kathie noted that her daughters
Alexis and Kaycee came in to help, her mom Helen Knecht came to help
and of course husband Jim was there as well. All in all, they got
everything done and the center portion of the store was nicely
decorated and there were sweet treats for everyone to enjoy as they
gathered in preparation for the ribbon cut.
Among those in attendance for the cut were many members of family
including Jim & Kathie’s daughters, Kathie’s mom, her dad and step
mother Ken and Karen Richert, her aunt and uncle Les and Teresa
Richert, and her grandmother Ruby Doyle. There were other family
members on hand as well as several friends and customers.
Representing the city of Lincoln were Mayor Seth Goodman, Aldermen
Michelle Bauer and Tracy Welch, and City Clerk Peggy Bateman. Logan
County Circuit Clerk Mary Kelly was on hand, as was Logan County
Fair Queen Molly Schempp. The Logan County Tourism Bureau was
represented by Morgan Gleason, Kaylee Kirby and Cindy Fleshman.
Former Lincoln/Logan County Chamber Ambassadors Deron and Kristi
Powell and Marcia Cook were in attendance, and there were a number
of business owners and managers from the downtown area who also
stopped in.
The event began with comments from the William’s and Mayor Goodman
inside. Then the party moved outside for the cutting.
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Kathie spoke first talking about her excitement to do
something of value for the community. Being a native of Lincoln, she
said her heart is always here. She noted that when she and Jim got
together he was in Bloomington and she just told him that would
never work for her, she was not big city and wanted to be in her
town. He was okay with that.
She noted that she wants to be a part of growing Lincoln.
She expressed appreciation for her family and friends for their
support and encouragement and said she was very grateful for her
husband Jim who was her rock.
Jim spoke briefly saying that while they were a
couple, and partners in everything, the vision of Small Town
Creations and the work behind it was all Kathie. He agreed that the
goal was to keep moving forward counting the first priority as
benefitting family and the second priority as benefiting the
community.
Mayor Goodman briefly said that as a realtor he has done a lot of
business with Kathie in her sign making business. He said that when
he heard that she would be taking on Bean’s & Such and the Award
Shop that there was no one better suited to do it successfully. He
offered them his congratulations and said that he was happy to see
them establish themselves as a downtown Lincoln business.
Outside, everyone gathered behind the ribbon strung up by LDN’s
Karen Hargis with help from Marcia Cook. At the countdown Jim and
Kathy snipped the ribbon. Everyone was then welcomed back inside to
enjoy cookies and coffee, and tour the building.
The celebration continues today with an open house at Small Town
Creations. Guests are invited to stop in, shop, take a tour, visit
with Kathie and other family members, and enter to win some nice
prizes, including a grand prize of free coffee for a year!
Congratulations and best of luck to another great business in
downtown Lincoln!
[Nila Smith] |
