The Hut Gift Shoppe to mark fifty years of service
The Hut Gift Shoppe is celebrating its 50th year of operation this month. The business that been passed down through the generations.
In 1946 Trace and Virginia (Pep) moved to Slayton and opened the Slayton Drug Store In 1960 Pep started Hafner’s Style Shop. Trace and Pep Hafner officially opened The Hut in 1969 with a focus on selling gifts and cards. Trace remained in the drug store with his sons joining him while Pep and Terry took the reins of the gift shop. Pep retired in 2001.
Sue has never really known much else. She managed a card shop in Spirit Lake, Iowa and cooked at Gordon Drug in Worthington before returning to the family business. At the time her mother and sister (Terri) were at the helm of the business with Trace remaining in the drug store.
As time has passed, The Hut has changed its form and function. In 1989, Isder purchased the next-door building, which was at the time a video and carpet store, and doubled the size of the business.
Home decor is the biggest seller and in the last few years clothing (which has really taken off) was added to the store’s inventory.
Emily joined the family business in 2002. The thought of being a part of the store hadn’t really crossed her mind. In fact, upon graduating from high school Emily’s plans were to become an agronomist. She, in reality, hadn’t been much a part of the operation other than visiting and helping out on occasion. “I didn’t really see this coming but I guess I have always loved to decorate,” giggled Emily. “I guess after college I really didn’t know what I wanted to do and everything just kind of fell into place.” Emily’s husband, Trevor, moved from Duluth to Slayton so everything lined up for the couple to begin their lives in the community where the family store began.
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