Strawberry Patch reopens after sale fails

(By Mark Stalcup) Strawberry Patch co-owner Cathie Land, right, and manager Cathy Shaw, right, unfurl the "open" flag as they work to re-open the Strawberry Patch at 49 S. Main St., Linton. Originally, plans called for the shop to be sold, but didn't work out as planned. Now, Land and her mother, shop co-owner Judy Koons, plan to reopen the store they have operated for 17 years. Sullivan's Carrie Sevier had planned to open a satellite shop for her business Ruby Sue's locally, but later decided against the move.

It wasn't strawberry shortcake -- more like a short break.

Plans to sell a long-lived local business fell through after new owners decided against the deal, meaning the Strawberry Patch has re-opened.

Now, plans call for the 49 S. Main St. consignment, craft and keepsake shop to open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with special hours by appointment.

Otherwise, owners Cathie Land and her mother Judy Koons said the shop will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., three days a week.

"It's pretty dead downtown right now," Koons said. "Somebody needs to wake it up."

Initially, Sullivan businesswoman Carrie Sevier planned to purchase the store, in business for the past 17 years at what was once the site of the Linton Dollar Store.

Sevier planned to have the business, Ruby Sue's, compliment a sister store of the same name she opened in Sullivan.

However, Sevier -- who could not immediately be reached for comment -- rethought that deal.

"We sold it, and then we got it back in two weeks," said Koons. "Now, we're trying to get it all back open. We're officially back open now."

Sevier's decision brought Koons and Land back to the business, after they'd originally intended to move operations to a new building they'd constructed on 14th Street.

"We were going to open a shop out there, and now we won't," Koons said. "We're not going to do that. Cathie makes candles and soaps, so that will be her melting room. I guess she's just got a $10,000 melting room."

Inside the shop, many booths sit empty. Koons estimates the store has between four and five spaces now up for rent, but plans to restock some of the empty space with items gathered over "17 years of business."

Land said the shop may host a special grand re-opening sale the first weekend in June.

That gives the mother-daughter team, assisted by manager Cathy Shaw, just under a week to bring the shop back to the way it was a month ago.

"We can do it," Land said. "We just have to find it all and bring it all back here."

For now, Land's working on restoring phone service, suggesting the shop might even be able to still get its old phone number back.

Regardless, both mother and daughter say they're glad to return.

"I thought we made a good decision," Koons said. "I guess it wasn't such a good decision after all. Everything happens for a reason."