Boundary People
Naples General Store Preserves Past Traditions
Mar 14, 2007, 20:42

It’s a place straight out of the Old West. Founded in 1893 by a man named Popp, the Naples General Store continues the Western Mercantile tradition by offering just about anything a person needs or wants. And if they don’t have it, they can get it.

“If you need a pair of underwear on a Sunday morning, we have it,” owner Earl Berwick said.

Besides underwear, the store is a full service grocery store and offers hardware items, sporting goods and other clothing as well. The shelves are bursting with canned goods, produce and frozen items. There are racks of blue jeans and shirts and even an Army-Navy Surplus section where you can get cots to coats to gas masks. Everything is so affordable, Berwick is sure his shoppers save money over those who take the trek to Sandpoint and the big box stores there.

“Our prices are as good as theirs,” he said. “Those (types of) stores create an illusion of savings, but in reality people end up spending more overall and more per item at that store.”

Linda and Earl Berwick own and operate the Naples General Store.

Shoppers at big box stores tend to buy things they don’t need, thus overspending, and also fall into the marketing traps of loss-leaders and other tactics. Berwick recounts one time he went into the big store and saw a pallet of hamburger buns “on sale” for $1.99.

“I sold the same ones for $1.49,” he recalled. “People see a pallet and think the items are on sale. It’s just an illusion.”

When you factor in the cost of gas to drive to Sandpoint, Berwick knows his customers save money at his general store.

Earl and his wife Linda have owned the Naples General Store since 1979. They came to Boundary County via California and North Dakota and raised their two children here. Their son Steve and his wife Susan both work at the store, although Steve is also a part-time pastor at the Bonners Ferry Assembly of God Church as well.

The store offers a variety of hardware items.

John Gustafson rounds out a “terrific” bunch of employees at the store, Earl said.
Good service and selection is what helps the Naples General Store survive, Earl said. He knows that his customers don’t just come in, grab an item, pay and leave. Most linger a bit to talk to others in the store, share a cup of coffee with a friend or visit the post office.
That’s the niche the store has: For more than 100 years, it’s been a community gathering place. It is also one of just two places in the entire county where a person can buy a hunting or fishing license.
“I love seeing the people come in,” Earl said. “I wouldn’t change the format of the store for anything. It’s a great situation and we love the people in this area.”

From groceries to gas masks, shoppers can find it all at the Naples General Store.

© Copyright 2007 by RuralNorthwest.com