By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
Two Medical Lake businesses are closing this week – the Wagon Wheel Tavern and Stone Cottage Collections – but the owners of both say they'll retain a foothold in the West Plains business community.
Citing the slow economy and an exceptionally hard year, Wagon Wheel owner Amber Duell chose to shutter the iconic local watering hole this Wednesday, March 23. In the spring of 2009 she and business partner Steve Herndon resurrected the tavern at the corner of Lake and Lefevre streets, but less than a year later the 35-year-old Herndon died in a motorcycle crash. Duell's home near Cheney burned down last August followed by the death of her father in early February.
“It's been one rough thing after another this year,” she said.
Duell said she'll step back and regroup before reentering the local business community, this time with a solo venture she declined to describe at this time due to pending licensing and other agreements. She also has plans to move with her daughters into a house in Medical Lake.
At Stone Cottage Collections, sole proprietor/owner Pamela Steele said after a final sale this Saturday, March 26, she will no longer retail antiques and collectibles from her home, a century-old stone cottage near the corner of Lefevre Street and Brooks Road that once served as the town's ice house. Steele, who opened the shop in 2003, said though a number of regular customers have been supportive, there has been a slowdown in business lately and she feels now is the right time to close.
Steele will continue offering her wares at various antique shows in the area and will have some vintage items for sale at Hidden Treasures in Airway Heights. The house and adjacent half-acre property will be put up for sale in the coming weeks, but she said an asking price is yet to be determined.
Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].
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