Sue's Gifts marks 20 years
Sue's Gifts owner Sue Torrence stands outside her Moses Lake store Thursday, which recently celebrated 20 years of business.
MOSES LAKE - Sue Torrence says having consistent store hours, being full of changing merchandise with things people want, are why her downtown shop, Sue's Shadow Box, has lasted 20 years.
She admits the business takes a "commitment, big time."
Torrence works six days a week, with the store open all of those days, but has a good crew of employees, she said. They make her take time off.
The business recently celebrated its 20th anniversary at its 212 W Third Ave. location in Moses Lake.
It all started about 20 years ago when Torrence went to a Seattle spring market with her girlfriend, Sheri Jacobsen, now owner of the Dollar Up store in Moses Lake.
Torrence thought "Oh my gosh," when the saw the selection of sales items.
She knew there weren't many stores in Moses Lake, deciding to "create a shop I can shop in with prices I can afford."
Twenty years later, Torrence says she has enjoyed her time as a business owner "very much."
"My customers are my friends," she commented. "Where else can you go talk to friends all day long?"
During that time, she's added clothing, the baggallini line of travel bags, totes and luggage and the distinctly printed Vera Bradley designer purses.
The Vera Bradley bags are a well-known name, popular and "have probably been my biggest adventure," she says. "They've been very, very successful."
It's been the same with the baggallini line, which were designed by flight attendants.
Customers with different professional and personal backgrounds, including teachers and retirees, have liked and bought baggallini pieces, she explained.
Her business also has tanning beds for customers.
As a child, Torrence moved to Moses Lake in 1960. Her father worked for the state Game Department, which brought the family to Grant County.
Torrence's husband, Les, is from Moses Lake. They decided to stay in the area. He is a barber at the Broadway Barber Shop in Moses Lake. Their children are Brent Torrence, who also works at the barber shop, and Brian Torrrence, a math teacher at Pasco High School.
She credits her daughters-in-law, Lynn and Brooke, for their help with the business by shopping with her.