MaryJanesFarm opening in CdA Plaza Shops
COEUR d’ALENE – A national guru for simple, organic living will open her first MaryJanesFarm retail store Friday in Coeur d’Alene’s Plaza Shops, selling linens, kitchenware, soaps, candles and furniture, and offering cooking and sewing classes.
MaryJane Butters, of Moscow, Idaho, is instantly recognizable with her trademark blond braid. The self-described simple farm girl made a name for herself as a proponent of natural and fun farm living. In addition to selling her many products, Butters publishes a magazine, has written books and runs a bed and breakfast and farm school. Her Moscow farm attracts visitors from all over the world.
“It was a natural,” Butters said her of opening her first store in Coeur d’Alene.
Hagadone Hospitality Co. President Jerry Jaeger said that he was looking for a store to fill out the Plaza Shops offerings when someone suggested he contact Butters. He quickly realized that her organic bedding and other simple, warm products would be the perfect fit.
“We didn’t just want to fill a space. We wanted to find somebody unique who would be a draw for our resort and local customers,” Jaeger said. “She’s way bigger than Idaho.”
This 1,200-square-foot MaryJanesFarm store at the Plaza Shops is just the beginning of several stores Butters plans to open across the country.
“It’s not where you live. It’s how you live,” she said of her desire to make her wares available to more people.
Butters says she already has a site for a Moscow store and plans to open others in Sun Valley and Park City, Utah, as well. More cities may be on tap down the road.
MaryJanesFarm products are already sold online at her Web site, www.maryjanesfarm.org, and at Belk Department Stores in Southern states.
Butters said her new retail store will carry many of the items available online with the exception of most of her natural food products. Those are available at REI stores in addition to Butters’ Web site.
She said she is especially excited to be able to feature more of her Project F.A.R.M. hand-crafted offerings, which are made by rural craftsmen, including many from the Inland Northwest.