Retirement Closes Two Dayton Businesses

Jacci's Yarn Basket was Jacci Wooten's Third Career

DAYTON – After several failed attempts to sell her business over the last three years, Jacci's Yarn Basket owner, Jacci Wooten, is closing her doors. The store's stock and fixtures are marked at 40% off now through April 16, when Wooten will officially retire.

Wooten said the yarn shop is her "third career." She spent three years as a librarian at the University of Idaho Law Library, and then spent 16 years as a hairstylist in Moscow, Ida.

Wooten and her husband, Tom, knew they wanted to retire in the Walla Walla area and moved to Dayton from Moscow with that in mind. Wooten opened Jacci's in Dayton in 2005.

"Knitting is just something I've always done," she said. "It comes naturally, so this is both a hobby and a business. It's something I do whenever and wherever. I'm just a knitter."

Wooten says the bulk of her business comes from out-of-area customers, with a few loyal Dayton customers.

"Knitting groups from the Tri-Cities will come over to knit, then go eat and shop. And travelers often stop in," she said. "I'm not sure people realized what an asset the shop was to Dayton," she added.

Wooten says she's done a good amount of mail-order business over the last four years as well. One woman from Maryland, who stopped in the shop as she was bicycling across America with her husband a number of years ago, still calls and places large orders with Wooten several times a year.

Wooten said several parties have attempted to purchase the business over the years, including a deal that just fell through. Most of them want to move the business to Walla Walla and they just weren't able to find an affordable storefront over there, Wooten said.

At 73, Wooten said it was finally time to just "pick a date" to go ahead and close shop. "The time is right to retire," she said. April 16 is that date.

Retiring won't mean an end to knitting, however. Wooten will continue to knit for fun, but has also opened a shop on Esty.com, jacciscustomhandknit, where she sells her quality handiwork. Jacci currently specializes in sweaters, cowls, hats, and scarves.

When asked what she's anticipating in her retirement, Wooten said, "I'm kind of looking forward to just being able to go to Andy's in the middle of the week!"

Jacci's Yarn Basket will be open regular store hours, now through April 16.

Hometown Carpets Rolls up the Rug

DAYTON – After spending a lifetime working in the carpet industry, Hometown Carpets & More owner Steve McMunn says he and business partner Teeny McMunn are ready to call it quits.

The store, located at 242 Main St. in Dayton, is liquidating stock and will close its doors for good in the next month or two.

McMunn says he still loves the work and the people, but was forced into the decision due to a lack of available labor installers.

McMunn, who subcontracts out installation, says help was easy to find following the economic downturn in 2009. But as the economy has picked up, it has become more and more difficult to find labor willing to drive out to Dayton, especially for smaller installations.

"It's been really fun. It really has. But finding good help is keeping me awake at night and I'm too old for that," the 73-year-old said.

McMunn graduated from Dayton High School and went to work for Davis- Kaser Furniture in Walla Walla, which he bought out in 1977. Since then, he has operated carpet and flooring stores in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Deer Park and Walla Walla.

In the 1980's, Teeny McMunn came on board as a partner. After leaving Spokane, they owned and operated an Abbey's Carpet franchise in Walla Walla for many years.

Steve McMunn said he originally intended to retire in 2011 when the Walla Walla building was sold and the stock was moved to Dayton for liquidation. Instead, the partners ended up reopening the store, on a smaller scale, in Dayton, where McMunn says he has served customers since the 1960's.

Today, they operate the shop jointly, with Steve working in the mornings, and Teeny covering the afternoons. The store marked its five-year anniversary in Dayton on April 1.

McMunn said the business has done well and they were often able to call in larger crews from Spokane and Walla Walla to cover bigger jobs, including the courthouse, hospital, Catholic parish, library and schools.

"Dayton has supported us really, really well. As many people as were able helped keep the business local and the support from people in the local area is very much appreciated," Teeny said.

"I was talking with a vendor-rep who said seeing us go was like closing a good book. We've been in business 30 years and I agree," she added.

McMunn said he and his wife, Joan, live on a 5-acre farm and he has plenty to keep him busy. They also plan to make time to travel and visit family, which they have not been able to do in the past.

McMunn says they will liquidate the store's roll and remnant inventory over the next couple of months.

Teeny says that, at 65, she's too young to retire and is looking forward to opening a new chapter in her life and has several job opportunities on the table.

The store is currently open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, until the majority of the stock is sold.

"We'll be selling things as cheap as we would ever consider. Just come down and ask to see what we have," Steve McMunn said.