Naples Store sold

Like many kids growing up in Naples, a younger Chad Kimball was a frequent visitor to Naples General Store.

Now a 30-year-old Kimball and his wife, Laura, 28, are taking over ownership of the Boundary County landmark.

The Kimballs have purchased Naples General Store and its inventory from Linda and Earl Berwick. The Kimballs will take over Feb. 1.

“I’m anxious and I’m excited,” Chad Kimball said. “It’ll be a challenge for us to provide the service and atmosphere that Linda and Earl have for the last 30 years.”

The Berwicks, both 63, worked on the sale of the 116-year-old store for two years. They wanted to find the right party. “It has to be someone who can deal with people, who is intelligent and has a can-do attitude,” Linda Berwick said. “I remember when he (Chad Kimball) and his sister were just little and being in the store. He was always full of spit and vinegar. He’s very energetic and has the personality to get along with people.”

The Kimballs don’t plan any immediate changes. Naples General Store will remain open 14 hours daily, seven days a week. The same merchandise will fill the shelves, and the two employees will remain. And most important, the store’s character won’t change.

That includes the warped wooden steps at the store’s entry.

“They’re kind of one of the trademarks of the store,” Chad Kimball said.

“We’ve had people take pictures of those steps,” Linda Berwick added.

Both Boundary County natives, the Kimballs three years ago moved home from Coeur d’Alene, where Laura Kimball managed a movie theater and her husband owned a landscaping business.

They had an interest in the Naples General Store.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind,” Laura Kimball said.

Chad Kimball will continue working for his dad, Clint Kimball, in the excavating and contracting business and spend weekends and evenings at the store. His wife will run the store during the day. Customers are sure to see the couple’s children, Peyton, 7; Sydni, 3; and Rylie, 18 months.

The Berwicks purchased the store and the neighboring youth hostel and cabins in October 1979 from Dusty Roop. They came to Naples from Orange County, Calif., with their children Kimberly and Steve, who at the time were 13 and 12.

Before buying the store, Earl Berwick considered about 10 different businesses for his family. He was familiar with North Idaho from traveling to Coeur d’Alene in 1975.

“I came here, (to the Naples General Store) and it just grew and grew on me,” he said.

“He kept saying ‘it has potential,’” Linda Berwick added.

An accountant, Berwick crunched the numbers. Naples wasn’t a very populated community. The store’s inventory was low. But the numbers added up after he spent a day at the store, talking to local folks.

The Berwicks increased the store’s grocery inventory and spent two entire nights repainting before opening the doors.

They diversified, adding gasoline, propane, fishing and hunting gear, hardware, clothing and more.

“We tried to be more than what the customer expects and the people have been wonderful,” Earl Berwick said. “Where else can you buy a six-pack of beer, a gallon of milk and wax ring for the toilet.”

They also developed traditions, like announcing the births of babies by posting the news in their storefront window and hosting annual visits from Santa at Christmas.

Although Naples’ population has grown since the 1980s, along with that growth has come competition like Home Depot, Walmart and Boundary Trading Co.

Selling the store wasn’t an easy decision.

“It was inevitable,” said Linda Berwick. “Age and health.”

Her husband in recent years has gone through two bouts of cancer and had a hip and a knee replaced.

“It has been absolutely wonderful,” Linda Berwick said about owning the store. “Every day is new. Every day is different.”

“We’ll miss it,” Earl Berwick said. “It’s been 30 years of our life.”

The Berwicks will help the Kimballs for about three months before retiring to their Naples farm.

The Berwicks sold the hostel and nearby cabins two years ago to Jeneen Schuler, who operates them as the Naples Inn.