Cobblestone cozy

Owners move 13-year-old business across the street into bigger space

MOSES LAKE — Cobblestone Corner is no longer on the corner, but owners Gail and Vern Hellewell never considered changing the name of their business.

"I like the name, it has a good ring, I like it," Gail said. "Someone said, 'Well, just paint cobblestones in the two corners of the store. Maybe we'll do that. But also, it would be expensive. You change your name, it's like you're starting your company all over … It could be a running joke. Cobblestone Corner's not on the corner."

The Hellewells took over the 13-year-old business more than three years ago, and earlier this month moved the store from its location at 101 W. Third Ave. across and up the street, at 116 W. Third Ave, opening July 3.

"It was a little over twice the size of what we had there," Gail explained of the new space. "We just felt like we were so cramped in that area that a lot of what we had to sell was not being seen. We really don't have a lot more, we just have it where they can see it. We spread it all out."

The Hellewells were even a little concerned that their new location would look empty at first.

"It didn't look empty, far from that," Vern said with a grin. "There's still a little bit of room where we can put a little bit more in, but it wasn't to increase product as much as it was to make it visible."

The new location also offers the Hellewells a back entrance and more storage space, among other things, Gail said. The space is more open, with wheels and other unique displays rather than booths, which will hopefully cut down on shoplifting.

The Hellewells also got a shot in the arm last month when Destination Development CEO Roger Brooks, in presenting a portrait of Moses Lake through the eyes of a visitor, praised Cobblestone Corner, among several other businesses, for setting pinwheels outside their business each day.

"It was a nice feeling," Gail said, "and the fact that he said, 'It takes a lot of work to move that in and out,' it was like, 'It's kind of nice to be appreciated.'"

"I wondered sometimes if we were doing the right thing doing that," Vern said. After Brooks' words, he felt that the couple was heading in the right direction, and the decorations were doing their job — getting customers to walk into the store.

Gail originally had a booth where she displayed her crafts in the business. When the owner decided to sell in 2003, the Hellewells purchased the business, intending for Gail to run the store to supplement their family farming operation.

"With Vern's help, he is now running the store with me, and we are leasing out the farm," Gail said with a laugh.

Married for 34 years, Vern and his family arrived in Moses Lake in 1963, and Gail's family in 1967. It had long been a daydream for the couple to retire and have their own business, selling Vern's furniture and antiques.

"It just happened a little quicker than what we anticipated," Vern said.

"We like it," Gail said, laughing that she originally thought the business hours would be a little shorter than farming, but adding she should have known better. "It's fun to put in the hours together."

Since making the move, the Hellewells say they haven't seen much change moneywise, but neither have they received a negative comment from customers.

"What we hear is, 'Oh, I loved your other store, but I think I like this one a little bit more,'" Gail said.

"We've sold some things that we've had on the shelf for a while," Vern agreed. "We think that it's visibility, they can see it now, and we're starting to see some things like that."

The business employs one part-time employee, and about 30 vendors who do four hours of work each month, in addition to the Hellewells, although Gail said they hope to eventually hire one full-time employee.