KAMSACK—Since opening its doors, Kamsack Cash and Local Market has been proving to be the thriving business its owners anticipated after surveying the community for a type of business people seemed to want.
“When we asked people what sort of business they wanted in town, this is what they said they would like,” Justin Knoll said last week during an interview in the store, which is filled with a wide assortment of items, new and used, displayed on walls and shelves, floor and ceiling.
“We didn’t think it would be this busy,” Justin said, laughing as he referred to the several persons who came in and browsed while the couple was being interviewed.
“We bought the building from Wayne Strukoff in July and after two months of renovations, we opened at the beginning of October,” said Justin, who operates the business with his wife Ashley.
Wayne’s father, Fred Strukoff, opened his chiropractic clinic in the building in 1969, and before that, it had contained a bakery, he said, explaining the renovations, which included giving the outside a fresh coat of paint. The renovations also entailed removing seven small offices to convert the ground floor into one large 2,000-square-foot showroom and a back storage area.
Born and raised in Regina, Justin is the son of Miles and Lynn Knoll of Regina and grandson of Glennis and the late Earl Knoll. Glennis now lives at the Kamsack and District Nursing Home.
“My grandparents have lived in Kamsack for 65 years,” he said, adding that he had been working as a journeyman auto body painter until about two years ago when he had been stricken with a critical illness which placed him on disability and resulted in him no longer being able to work at his trade.
While Justin was obliged to begin seeking a different type of employment, his grandmother in Kamsack had to leave her home to live in an assisted care facility, so he and his wife agreed to be closer to his grandmother and to look after her home.
The couple moved to Kamsack last November. Married two years ago, they are parents to two children: Ashley has a son in high school and Justin shares custody with the mother of his five-year-old son.
Off work and wanting something he could do, Justin said he had begun “buying, selling, trading and meeting people” and soon had accumulated enough stock that could allow the couple to open a business. They had a couple of ideas, such as opening a dollar store in Canora, but agreed they liked Kamsack and preferred to open a business in this community.
“It happened real fast,” he said, explaining that he had been looking for a property to purchase when Pheobe Koroluk of Pheobe’s Beauty Parlor in Kamsack suggested Strukoff’s building which was not yet on the market.
“We looked at it and saw that it was in better shape than the buildings we had been looking at,” he said, obviously excited to discuss their venture. He talked about the renovations and how they agreed to make the showroom larger and larger, how they painted, obtained recycled lumber to build shelving and worked to restore the building’s original hardwood flooring.
He did not contain his excitement when explaining that he was told by Strukoff of how the building is connected to a long-unused tunnel that goes under main street and was probably used for nefarious purposes many years ago.
The second floor of the building will be used as a warehouse, he said, adding that the business may evolve into a liquidation-type operation, especially because in the new year he expects to receive two semi-trucks of merchandise, including returned items, from Wayfair and Ikea. He also has ongoing arrangements with antique dealers and other contacts in Regina.
Currently on display and for sale are jewelry, tools, recreation and sporting goods, new and used clothing, housewares, antiques, furniture, toys and video gaming systems.
“We have someone who refurbishes all the gaming systems and makes sure they are all in good working order before they are available for sale,” he said. “Basically, we sell items at about half price of new, and in good condition.”
“We sell good quality items at a reasonable price,” Ashley added.
“We have something for everyone,” Justin said.
“We take items on consignment, and since the beginning of November, we also have been operating as a pawn shop,” he said. A person needing cash can bring a valuable item into the store and receive money for it. The item must stay a minimum of one week in the store and the customer has 30 days to retrieve it. If not taken back, or if an extension is not obtained, then the item can be sold.
The business recently began daily specials that offer a 25 per cent price reduction, Ashley said. On Mondays DVD movies are on special; Tuesdays, it’s tools; on “Wacky Wednesdays” smoking accessories are on sale; on “Thrifty Thursdays,” all clothing is sold 25 per cent off; on “Freaky Fridays,” all glassware and houseware items are on sale, and on “Super Saturdays,” everything in the store is sold at 25 per cent off.
In addition, all winter, children’s winter jackets and ski pants are being sold at $5 each.
Ashley, who has worked in the beauty services industry and has managed a salon in Regina, said that in spring she intends to offer, on a part-time basis, body piercing, eyelash extensions and body waxing services.
On staff with Justin and Ashley are Melissa Quewezance and an antique expert. Justin’s sister, Adriana Knoll of Saskatoon, is the business’s social media and online person, who helps with business contacts.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Summer hours will be extended.
Ashley said they may hold a grand opening in the spring.
