KALONA

Last summer, friends who had never been to Kalona dropped by to say hi before exploring the town. Their primary destination? The Kalona General Store.

The General Store was a thing. It was where you went to find plastic tubes of filling for your pies, socks woven with an Amish buggy pattern for your mom, and gummy candy in shapes like pigs, cows, and fried eggs to send to your siblings. It was home to a wide array of uncommon goods.

When owners Susan and David Finley announced they were closing the store so they could retire at the end of 2024, some may have thought that to be a sad ending to the storied business, which has existed in some form since 1883, back when general stores were truly that.

But if you are a regular reader of this paper, you know that most endings are really new beginnings. And so it is with the Kalona General Store.

Although closed now, the Kalona General Store is projected to reopen by the end of March, this time with Lori Witthoft at the helm. You may have heard of her: she is the visionary behind Best of Iowa, the shop next door. But that is not to say the Kalona General Store will be an expansion of Best of Iowa – the space formerly home to Reif’s Family Center will retain its own unique identity as a general store.

“I’m thrilled to be bringing new life to the Kalona General Store,” Witthoft says. “While we’ll preserve the charm and nostalgia of an old-fashioned general store, we’re also incorporating some exciting new elements to enhance the shopping experience. The store will feature traditional general store merchandise, including bulk foods, spices, and specialty yarns, but we’ll also have modern touches like a peanut butter grinder and a coffee station where customers can grind their own coffee. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people can find unique, high-quality products and feel like they’re stepping back in time while still enjoying today’s conveniences.”

If you’re like me, maybe you have some visuals in your head about what an old-fashioned general store is like, having been in a few while traveling across the country. What dominates for me is huge wooden barrels filled with wrapped candies.

“We’re definitely going to have the barrel candies,” Witthoft confirms. “We’re going to have the cash register with that old general store-type shelving behind there. There’s going to be a lot of food, like meats, cheeses, and canned goods – all those things you think of.”

If this talk of food is making you hungry (or maybe that’s just me, because it’s lunch time as I write this), Witthoft has something up her sleeve that may just perk you up: hot food will be served inside the store as well.

“The Lunch Box will be a cozy café that serves a variety of delicious, fresh-made meals,” she says. “Our menu will feature classic sandwiches, hearty soups, salads, and homemade desserts. We’ll also offer daily specials to keep things exciting.”

The Lunch Box will offer both dine-in and carry-out options, “making it a convenient spot for locals and visitors alike,” she says. “The atmosphere will be warm and inviting – perfect for grabbing lunch with friends or enjoying a quiet meal.”

While some of the design details are still being worked out, Witthoft mentions booth seating may be a possibility, and she has something fun in mind for take-out packaging.

If a revamp of the general store sounds like a lot of work to take on in the next couple of months, it is. And it comes on the heels of Best of Iowa’s expansion into Williamsburg last summer, where Witthoft’s second outpost for Iowa-made goods, cupcakes, and freezer meals has been warmly embraced.

“We always had a customer base from Williamsburg that would come to Kalona, and I think they still come, but it’s nice to be able to be in that community,” she says. “I think they were really excited to have us.”

But Witthoft isn’t going it alone. Adding a second shop and now taking on the general store has allowed her to hire more staff, including a full-timer, so that she can be less hands-on when it comes to day-to-day operations and do more big-picture oversight. Still, you might wonder why the Mid-Prairie graduate would want to take on such a sizeable project.

“The Kalona General Store has always been a special part of the community, and when the opportunity arose, I felt inspired to preserve its legacy while giving it a fresh start,” she says. “I believe in the importance of maintaining spaces where people can gather, connect, and support local businesses. My hope is to create a destination that brings joy to both residents and visitors, where they can shop, eat, and experience the charm of Kalona. Ultimately, I want this store to be a place that strengthens our community and highlights the best of what small-town Iowa has to offer.”

A hard-working entrepreneur who aims to use her creative gifts to support her community: now that’s the best of Iowa.