Employees and friends at the Brush Prairie General Store put on a barbecue Saturday to celebrate the store’s 110th birthday. Left to right: Eric Kim, Emma Kim, Jennifer Kim, Seung Kim, Sandy Kim, Stephanie Gray, Julie Kim, Kay Gray and Hak Kim.
Brush Prairie General Store owners Hak and Julie Kim know they have a community treasure on their hands.
The business turned 110-year-old Saturday. They celebrated the day by inviting the community they serve to a barbecue at the shop.
Wilbur Hall built the store in 1908 and owned it until 1916. The Kims have been in charge since 1987. Seung, Hak’s 83-year-old mother, still opens the store and greets the customers. It’s open every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“It’s a central location for everything,” Julie said. “It’s hard to believe, 110. We did 100 years. But 110, that’s wow!”
Julie doesn’t remember the year, but she told a story about a time there was snow and ice on Christmas day. Since people couldn’t drive, they walked to the general store for anything they could find to make Christmas dinner with.
“The people are why we are still here,” Hak said. “We love the customers. We know them on a first name basis. They’re just like family.”
