MEEKER | Meeker’s retail therapy options will be down by one in the next few weeks as Country Raised closes its brick-and-mortar space at 610 Main St.
Proprietor Makala Barton opened the store, which offers home decor and gifts, in June 2016. In the three years since, she also went to work for the county as the economic development specialist, and in the last month, accepted the role of economic development director.
“I juggled all-of-the-things for almost a year, and once I was officially offered the director position here, I just knew that something had to give for me personally. There’s just not enough hours in the day,” Barton said via email.
Barton said she chose not to sell the business, but is “holding on to the name” in hopes of transitioning Country Raised into an “event-based, vintage market/barn sale out on our property once or twice a year perhaps in conjunction with my pumpkin patch/fall festival concept.”
The store will remain open for business-as-usual for the month of June, with a closing/sale event coming in July.
“It’s been an amazing, fun experience and the store has been a tremendous success that I’m so proud of,” Barton said on the store’s Facebook page. “As most of you know, I have the opportunity to make a bigger impact at the county level in economic development and need to make a 100% commitment to that job.”
By Niki Turner | [email protected]
