Home decor, kitchenware, fabric available at Dot's Country Kitchen
Photos by TANNA YEOUMANS Dot’s Country Kitchen sells unique kitchenware among other things.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Becki Minden of My Rusty Heart makes unique decorative signs and blocks.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The store also carries Gurgle Pots.
There is a wide variety of fabrics to choose from.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The newly implemented greenhouse hosted a variety of plants, these Succulants are the remainder for the season.
BONNERS FERRY — Dot’s Country Kitchen is not a brand new business in Boundary County, but it is one that fills a niche in the community.
Owner Dorothy Unruh began her business journey from her home, eventually expanding her wares and expertise into the little shop by the Boundary County Airport.
“Initially, I started selling enamelware — that was my thing — and that is why it is called Country Kitchen,” said Unruh. “We have added a lot of gift items that go with that, so that is what this part is for. The fabric part is to serve the community as our community still sews a lot.”
The front of the store boasts various gift items, from custom signs and home decor, to kitchenware and more. Further into the building is a fabric niche where customers can purchase fabric and sewing necessities geared toward making clothes.
Unruh is of the Mennonite faith, and many women in the faith enjoy sewing and making garments for themselves and their family. As a part of the faith, the different groups uphold the dressing requirements, which much commercially-made clothing does not meet. However, some groups have implemented commercially manufactured clothing into their wardrobes as long as they follow the regulations of what they believe in.
“Auntie’s sold out, so I bought that part of the business in February,” said Unruh. “So now I have the fabric part and the gift part. This spring we did the greenhouse.”
After checking with various people and businesses, Unruh decided implementing the greenhouse would be worth it for her business and the support of small businesses around the area.
“The greenhouse was kind of my baby because the greenhouses are so far away, especially the last two summers with all the road construction, even people from Montana have appreciated having the greenhouse here,” said Unruh. “The Three Mile area needed to have a greenhouse.”
She allows local residents, with things to sell, to utilize her store and she also promotes other local small business owners to her customers.
One of the people who have product in her store is Becki Minden, who owns My Rusty Heart. She custom-makes decorative signs from items such as old windows and blocks of wood. Unruh talked about how the decorative blocks were popular to the customers who pass through her store.
Dot’s Country Kitchen not only brings another gift shopping option to Boundary County, it also serves the community by giving local small business owners and artists an opportunity to showcase and sell their work.
Located at 64891 U.S. 2, they are just past the Boundary County Airport and Truss Tek on the left-hand side as one heads toward Moyie Springs. Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., their phone number is 208-267-1175.