Saying goodbye to Mandy's Gift Gallery
Photos by Mandi Bateman Mandy’s Gift Gallery has an array of gift ideas, many under $15.
Customers will get one last holiday season with Mandy’s Gift Gallery before the store closes on Dec. 23.
Mandy Lammers kept the tradition alive from the previous store, with a year-round Christmas section.
The kitchen section of Mandy’s Gift Gallery is popular for anyone who likes to cook.
BONNERS FERRY — After two years, the whirlwind adventure of Mandy’s Gift Gallery will come to an end.
It began on a whim, when Mandy Lammers and her husband purchased the old Gift Gallery in 2016, after reading an article in The Bonners Ferry Herald announcing the 30-year-old business was closing. Lammers did not want to see that happen, so the decision was made — and Mandy’s Gift Gallery was born.
In the two years they have been in business, Lammers has not only garnered many loyal customers, but she has also propelled the small business forward, earning an award from the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Congress this year on April 27, for the Favorite Place to Spend $$. Voters in Boundary County also chose Mandy’s Gift Gallery as their Favorite Place to Buy a Gift, during the Best of Boundary 2017 voting, put on by the Bonners Ferry Herald.
Mandy’s Gift Gallery has carried items of every shape, size, and price range, including unique kitchenware, local raw honey, stuffed animals, jewelry, yarn- and keeping with the tradition set forth by the previous business- a year round Christmas section. Lammers always made sure to have a large selection of items priced under $15, making gift buying affordable.
The building where Lammers has been leasing the storefront, sold in August and her lease is up at the end of the year. She has been looking for a new location but could not find any affordable options in town.
“They are either too small, too expensive, too big, or not a good location,” said Lammers. “I knew I had until the end of the year … now it is the end of the year.”
Although Lammers is sad that the Mandy’s Gift Gallery adventure is ending, her compassion for the community showed through. “I am happy that the building is being worked on, and repaired, and being occupied by another local business,” she said.
“I do want people to know, in the community, how much I appreciated their support,” said Lammers. “I want to be back someday.”
People in the community will miss Lammer’s unique ability to help find that perfect gift for their loved ones. One of Lammers’ favorite things to do, was to help husbands find the right gift for their wife. In a small town like Bonners Ferry, she would often not just ask them what the wife liked, but who she was. Many of the times, Lammers knew who the wife was, and was able to provide the perfect gift. Even is she didn’t know who they were, she had a knack for helping find that special something.
“I’ve really enjoyed helping people in the community,” said Lammers. “That’s my favorite part.”
“It will be a huge loss to our community,” said customer Jan Irving. “Loved her shop and what she carried. Perfect place to find gifts and decor. Really liked the Christmas items year round.”
“I’ve had a lot of people calling me at home, or come into the store, telling me I can’t close,” said Lammers. “It breaks my heart.”
If Lammers cannot sell her current inventory as a whole, she is planning on selling the remaining inventory, as well as the items that she produces, such as honey, chapstick, washcloths, and crochet scrubbies, through an online venue that has not yet been decided.
Until that time comes, Lammers will be running sales. “We are starting to mark stuff down already,” she explained. “We will be having sales through the month of December.”
The community will have one last holiday season with Mandy’s Gift Gallery, before its doors close on Dec. 23.
“I’ve enjoyed the past two years immensely,” said Lammers. “When the kids are grown, and out of school, I would love to do this again.”
So, for Mandy’s Gift Gallery, Dec. 23 will be “goodbye” ... for now.