After lunch yesterday Scotty and I walked up Miner St. and stepped into Surroundings to see what was new. There is one thing you can count on at Gerrilee Shinn’s home decor and gift shop - there is ALWAYS something new. As a matter of fact I went back today and the store was completely rearranged! It was like little magic elves had been working through the night!
I have to say, if there is one example of a couple stores that are run well in Yreka it HAS to be Surroundings and it’s ‘conjoined twin’ Natural Selections. The merchandise is top quality, the stores are both pristine, frequently updated and the customer service is unmatched! By the way, I am not paid to say all this! Anyone who can do what these ladies have done in Yreka deserves a little PR.
Their shops are in the “Coca Cola” building at 331 & 333 West Miner Street.
So, here’s the brief low down on how these gals got together. Ellen Janson opened a boutique in a building down the road from where they are now. Gerilee worked for a interiors shop and the two would visit with each other often during the work day. When Ellen heard about the ‘coca cola’ building coming available she asked Gerilee if she wanted to open shop and share the rent. That was 8 years ago and the arrangement has proven to be nothing less than brilliant! These gals share the rent as well as great taste and business savvy too.
Gerilee not only runs Surroundings but compliments her business by doing interior design at most any level from redecorating a room to new construction interiors from the ground up. She is really talented and has done a lot of work in Redding in recent years! Busy lady!! What strikes me about Gerilee is her overflowing, bubbly, contagious enthusiasm for what she does. She’s just darling!
Ellen is noted for not only running a high quality boutique but also for creating Yreka’s 1st Annual Septemberfest last year. Miner and Broadway were closed off to traffic, nearly 50 vendor booths were set up and the band played all day. It was a successful happening for Yreka and the plan is to do it again! Hey vendors - keep checking back for details!
It seems to me that these two shops are pretty much the retail foundation for downtown Yreka. They both attract visitors from all over the region and are a welcome reprieve for our wondering tourists. I am so glad we have them and glad they are here to stay!
Nice jobs girls!
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Natural Selections
331 West Miner St
Yreka, CA
842-5270
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Surroundings
333 West Miner St
Yreka, CA
842-7660
