Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Pictured are employees from the Village Closet and Country Store. Front row, from left, Betsy Corle, Laura Rhodes, Janice Colbert, Amanda Butler. Second row, from left, Emma Byler, Pam Claycomb, Stephene Weyandt, Rhonda Miller, Jaycie Butler. Back row, Tammy Daughenbaugh. Absent from photo: Chloe Wiedemann, Christie Hellwig, and Amy Martin
Back in 1989, two local sisters, Iris Stern and Janice (Jan) Colbert, had a dream of owning their own store. After lots of planning and hard work, they set that dream in motion. The Village Closet originally opened as a consignment shop in the village of McKee in the building currently housing The Cut on November 15, 1989. One year later, The Village Closet moved to just outside Martinsburg along route 164 in the plaza then known as Towne's Edge Exchange, owned by Don & Shirley Weyandt.
Sadly, on January 30, 1994, Stern unexpectedly passed away and Colbert became sole proprietor of the business until 2017 when the name was officially changed to The Village Closet & Country Store, LLC, and Colbert's youngest daughter Laura Rhodes became part owner.
What originally opened as a small consignment shop back in 1989 has since grown into a much larger operation. The Martinsburg location currently employs 13 people, including Jan and Laura. In 2020, the new owners of the Towne's Edge Exchange Plaza, tore down the building and replaced it with a new one. At that time, The Village Closet and Country Store doubled in size and currently offers not only a consignment shop, but also a large country gift and home décor store, a new women's fashion boutique, a large selection of jewelry and gifts, new toys, Amish-made wooden furniture, and much more.
Colbert and Rhodes would like to thank the community and their loyal customers for supporting local business and helping them reach the 35 year mark.
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