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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Front & Center: Onion Creek General Store co-owner looks back and forward

After 21 years spent operating the Onion Creek General Store in northern Stevens County, Terri and Mark Charbonneau look forward to slowing down. (MICHAEL GUILFOIL/For The Spokesman-Review)
By Michael Guilfoil For The Spokesman-Review

NORTHERN STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. – Terri and Mark Charbonneau like to say they didn’t buy their business in 1996 – they bought their jobs.

Or, depending on one’s perspective, their incarceration.

The Charbonneaus’ home shares a common wall with their store, so neighbors occasionally call up after closing time wanting to buy something when friends drop in unexpectedly.

“We allow them one of those per year,” Terri said with mock exasperation.

The Charbonneaus have no employees, and until recently took only four days off together all year.

Nationwide, mom-and-pop markets are among the most endangered of small-town businesses, according to a recent New York Times article.

But to call the Onion Creek General Store a small-town business ignores the fact that there is no “small town” there – just the store, a library open four hours a week, and the 40-student Onion Creek school up the road.

One local resident described the Charbonneaus’ business as “a real blessing for the community.”

“I’d have to drive 30 miles for gas if it weren’t there,” he said. “And Mark and Terri’s prices are fair. They could probably charge a lot more.”

The original Onion Creek General Store opened in 1978. It burned down nine years later and was rebuilt. The Charbonneaus became the third owners when they bought the business.

“We call this the smallest mall in the Northwest, because we’re more than a convenience store,” Terri said. “We also carry some hardware, sporting goods, gift items. And we cater to locals’ special requests, which is why we carry teriyaki Spam.”

During a recent interview, Terri discussed an event that changed her life, her business philosophy and why rural markets are so important.

S-R: Where did you grow up?

Charbonneau: In the Auburn-Black Diamond area between Seattle and Tacoma. Mark grew up in Spokane.

S-R: Did you have a favorite class in high school?

Charbonneau: Art. I thought I wanted to be either a commercial artist or a grade-school teacher. But when I went to college, I was steered toward drafting and got discouraged, so I dropped out.

S-R: What was your first job?

Charbonneau: I worked as a carhop at an A&W when I was 15. I also had other jobs, including working at a shop that sold miniature furnishings for doll houses, which was really fun. Before we bought the store, I worked for radio stations for 12 years as a bookkeeping and business manager.

S-R: When did you and Mark meet?

Charbonneau: Thirty years ago. We were both in Seattle helping move somebody, and Mark had a good sense of humor. That’s the key to a long-lasting relationship.

S-R: Was there a major turning point in your life?

Charbonneau: Yes, when we lost our son. He was a very compassionate, sensitive 14-year-old, and very smart – an honor student who wasn’t used to making mistakes. But he got caught shoplifting one day, and I’m sure he thought he’d ruined his life. So he jumped off a bridge, and died eight weeks later.

S-R: What brought you to Onion Creek?

Charbonneau: Mark, who owned a Spokane bait and tackle shop, realized I needed a change. So he contacted a real estate agent in Northport and asked what businesses were for sale, then came up on a fishing trip – what we called “product testing” – to check them out. When he saw this, he called me and said, “Pack your bags. We’re moving.”

S-R: How much did the business cost?

Charbonneau: We paid $160,000, plus another $30,000 to put in a new underground gas tank. Before that, people used to ferry 5-gallon gas cans to and from Colville and hand them out in the parking lot to people with home generators.

S-R: What determines whether you have a good year or not?

Charbonneau: Who’s living in the neighborhood. If a family moves in with a bunch of kids, they’re going to shop here more. If they’re professionals working in Colville, they’re probably going to do their shopping there. We have a lot of people who use food stamps, but we also have people who buy what we call the most expensive gas in the Northwest (currently $3) and don’t think anything about it.

S-R: How long has the Onion Creek community existed?

Charbonneau: The original school was built in 1915. The community experienced a revival in the ’70s, when people arrived planning to live off the land. A new school for kindergarten through fifth grade was built in 1981. The school has had as many as 60 students in K through eighth grade, but this past year’s enrollment fluctuated between 35 and 40. The whole community has about 300 residents. We also serve hunters from the West Side in the fall and get some skiers heading up to Red Mountain in winter.

S-R: How has the business evolved?

Charbonneau: The original store had showers, washers and dryers, because the owners catered to that whole new back-to-the-land group. When our well started failing, we got rid of the showers and washers and dryers. About three years ago, we spent $30,000 drilling a new well.

S-R: Do you still have some back-to-the-landers?

Charbonneau: Absolutely. We also have teachers, doctors, musicians. Some people commute to Colville. Others telecommute from their homes.

S-R: How’s internet service?

Charbonneau: If you’re within four miles of the store, it’s good. Farther away, you need satellite internet.

S-R: What are some of the store’s most popular items?

Charbonneau: Ice cream, year-round! Also craft beers and energy drinks.

S-R: Is there anything that’s been on your shelf since you arrived 20 years ago?

Charbonneau: Probably some of the fishing gear Mark brought from his tackle shop.

S-R: What sort of year are you having?

Charbonneau: Sales are lower, but the overall profit is about the same. A good year for us is when the fire danger is low and the snow is manageable. A good year is when we’re healthy and can do everything ourselves.

S-R: How do you divide duties?

Charbonneau: I do the bookkeeping and most of the ordering. Mark is in charge of plowing, mowing, maintenance and most trips to Spokane. He also does most of the cooking.

S-R: What’s a typical work week?

Charbonneau: We’re both here most of the time. The only days we used to take off together were New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ve been adding random Monday holidays, like Presidents Day and Columbus Day. And with a little planning, one of us can take about a week off while the other runs the store alone. Mark says we do that so we’ll have something new to talk about.

S-R: What has running this business taught you about yourself?

Charbonneau: (laugh) I have no idea.

S-R: What’s your business philosophy?

Charbonneau: After 21 years, I still say I’m playing store. But I get the most joy from feeling like we’re making a positive contribution to the community.

S-R: What do you like least?

Charbonneau: Interacting with difficult people.

S-R: Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?

Charbonneau: I wish we’d had more working capital when we bought the business so we didn’t have to borrow to get things going.

S-R: What would happen if your store closed?

Charbonneau: It would be a hardship on the community. If someone ran out of bread or butter or milk, they might have to drive 30 miles so their kids could eat breakfast.

S-R: Are there misperceptions about your business?

Charbonneau: The biggest misperception is that we’re wealthy because we own a business. (laugh) We bought our jobs, and our jobs provide for us. But that doesn’t mean we’re rich.

S-R: What challenges lie ahead?

Charbonneau: Figuring out what I want to do next. Six years ago, I took internet classes from Peninsula College in Port Angeles and earned my associate degree in multimedia communications.

S-R: Are rural markets an anachronism?

Charbonneau: People say these store are disappearing, but the Rice store (28 miles west of Colville) just reopened. When we took our last little adventure, we stopped at stores in Hunters, Fruitland and Springdale, and all the owners said they like their jobs. But it’s a lot of hours.

S-R: Who would be the perfect person to take over this business?

Charbonneau: Someone who wants to be a big part of the community.

S-R: What would it cost to buy?

Charbonneau: I figure it’s worth around $320,000.

S-R: What would you do if you sold?

Charbonneau: I could do bookkeeping anywhere, and Mark says he’d even wash dishes. We’re pushing 60, but we’re not afraid of labor. We’re just ready to slow down.

Writer Michael Guilfoil can be contacted at mguilfoil@comcast.net.