Saturday, November 28, 2015

Retail Gourmet


By Liv Stecker

Peter Hallam has set out to tap into the gourmet side of Stevens County. In September, Hallam took over Colville’s Kitchen Korner, a downtown business fixture that has served Colville for many years. Bringing with him two decades of retail experience, Peter’s goal with the cozy Main Street location is to provide a shopping experience that expands enjoyment and productivity in the kitchen, while exposing customers to new culinary ideas and adventures.

For over ten years, Kitchen Korner has specialized in giving shoppers a unique place to find both domestic necessities and novelty gifts, offering a wide range of critical tools and whimsical trinkets for the cook, winemaker, baker or brewer in the area.

Hallam himself is a long-term fixture in Colville, having graduated from Colville High School before moving around gathering experience in retail management. Most of his career has been spent working for jewelers, where Peter picked up the skills of design and repair that won him a loyal following locally. Recently employed at Colville Jewelers, Peter saw the opportunity to expand his horizons when the previous owners of the Kitchen Korner were ready to turn over a new leaf. Leaving the jewelry store was a tough choice, but Hallam’s faithful jewelry customers have already found him at his new location, popping in to browse around the colorful atmosphere.

After stepping into Kitchen Korner in September, Peter is replenishing and expanding the stock, continuing bestselling favorites, adding new lines and products and fulfilling special orders. In addition to kitchen utensils and gadgets, bake ware, canning and processing supplies, Kitchen Korner features a winemaking and brewing supply section, which Hallam has plans to expand.  Replacing ready-made beer kits with fresh bulk supplies, he will offer local beer makers more flexibility in their brewing options. “A lot of the local guys like to make their own recipes, so this gives them choices.” He says about bringing in local hops and grains.

Kitchen Korner also features local gourmet specialty foods including locally roasted coffee, a small selection of novelty eatables and specialty teas. He plans to expand this selection somewhat, and will be the exclusive retailer in the Colville area selling Scott Brothers Coffee, a company from Curlew, Washington with a passion for providing carefully sourced, roasted and prepared coffee.




Hallam has big plans for Kitchen Korner and the faithful customers who love it for the unique shopping experience it provides. Price and selection-wise, Hallam says he tries to “keep it right between Williams and Sonoma and Walmart.” A collection of giftable, as well as useful gadgets fill the small space in the corner store. Customers can find specific tools including thermometers, pressure cookers, prep supplies and scales, as well as fun and frivolous kitchen additions.


Kitchen Korner is open 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Monday through Friday and 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Saturday. Stop in for a sample of Scott Brothers Coffee and take in the cozy and colorful shopping treat on 202 S. Main Street in Colville.





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