By CARA LORELLO
Staff Reporter
A store with an eclectic blend of country charm for indoor and outdoor decorating and landscape needs—that just about sums up GardenStone Creations, a new retail business that just opened in Airway Heights.
The store, specializing in stone engraving, landscape merchandise and indoor décor, is a division of local landscape company, Cascading Creations, owned and operated by the Tareski family of Nine Mile.
The Tareskis' business began about five years ago and steadily grew from home-based headquarters to a full-scale commercial lot in Airway Heights. They've performed landscape jobs throughout the West Plains, and from North Spokane to Spokane Valley.
The new retail store, manager Kelly Tareski said, is their latest addition.
GardenStone Creations is open six days a week, and its one-of-a kind merchandise for the home and garden fit into what Tareski calls a “country rustic” theme and look.
Stone engravings are done on-site, where before, Tareski filled orders from a home studio. The 2,500-square foot retail room was built for maximum space with an all-wood finish fitting the rustic theme filled with neatly arranged displays, with more to come later as shipments are still arriving.
The family and their business have “strong roots” in the Pacific Northwest, Tareski said. Thanks to some help from their local Inland Northwest Bank branch, and community, the Tareskis were able to open their new store despite a bad economy.
“It's tough times for a lot of people, but we've been fortunate enough to be part of a great community,” Tareski said.
At a time when financial institutions are leery of investing in small business, the Tareskis say Inland Northwest provided “unwavering support” in recognizing potential in their company, which they built from the ground up.
Though commercial jobs are accepted, most Cascading Creations' work orders are for residential customers looking to spruce up their property with special landscaping, hardscaping or custom water features. Their focus has always been, as Monte Tareski put it, “taking care of the little guy.”
Another big focus: supporting all things local.
GardenStone Creations hopes to do just that, Kelly Tareski said, by offering up retail space for local artisans looking for a venue to sell their work. Currently, the store buys most of its items from a few vendors, but they hope to add more as word gets around.
“As many as we can fit, and if it fits with our rustic theme,” Tareski said of the type of work the store will accept, adding that most all merchandise is USA-made.
It's long been the family's goal to open a retail venue through their business, Tareski added, and “get things all under one roof.”
“It's a humble start for us, but I think we've enough to give people a taste of what we're all about,” she said.
The Tareskis even documented the store's development on the online video-sharing website, YouTube, at http://www.youtube.com/user/CascadingCreations. There, viewers may also see examples of stone engravings, make purchases and place orders.
GardenStone Creations is located at 1515 S. Lyons in Airway Heights, open Monday through Friday (excluding Wednesdays), from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Call 244-0900 for more information, or visit the company websites at http://www.gardenstonecreations.com, or http://www.cascadingcreations.com.
Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]
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