HUMBOLDT ? A soft opening ? ?really a trial run,? Jaime Mueller called it ? quickly became much more last weekend at Loop and Knot, 808 Bridge St.
She and husband Mike own the store, which offers clothing for men, women and children.
?We wanted to find out where we were, whether we were ready to open for good,? Jaime said.
In a small town such as Humboldt word quickly gets around.
?By Friday afternoon we had a lot of people here.? When classes dismissed later, ?a lot of girls came in, lots of younger girls with their mothers. Saturday was a madhouse. I didn?t close the store until 6:15.?
Showing the reach of social media, ?we had a lot of out-of-town people the first two days,? Jaime said. Customers have continued to troop in this week.
The shop is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; until 7 p.m. on Thursday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Loop and Knot moves A Bolder Humboldt closer to its goal of filling storefronts on the north side of Bridge Street, between Eighth and Ninth.
A walk along the block shows another clothing store, candy shop, an icy treat outlet, two restaurants and a combination eatery-bakery.
OWNING and running a clothing shop has been Jaime?s dream since a youth in Fredonia. Her father, Danny Duft, is a transplanted Iolan who manages an electric cooperative there.
Her dream materialized as part of Humboldt?s storied revival.
Bison Woodworking, with Dirk Sorenson involved in design, constructed intricate and upscale amenities for the store?s interior. A comfortable soft-cushioned settee gives pause for shoppers inside a large circular framework emblazoned with the store?s logo.
Spool ends that once held electrical wire and other such wooden oddities came compliments of her father and give life to display areas. Bricks with the signature of Humboldt?s old brick plant are another part of the store?s ambiance.
