Happy’s Hallmark has been a part of the downtown shopping experience in Colville for forty years. Opened originally in 1976, Happy’s is an icon of a small town gift shop, and for many years one of the only places to get a greeting card, collect holiday ornaments or pick up a high quality gift year round for loved ones. In 1986, Carl and Eileen Bach assumed ownership of the little store on the corner and ran the shop until June of this year when they retired.
Taunia and Brian Dechenne purchased Happy’s business from the Bachs in 2016 and are thrilled to join the local business community in the whimsical little shop. Providing the same great Hallmark products and a broad selection of gifts and decor for events ranging from retirement and graduation to baby showers, first communions and hilarious over-the-hill birthday celebrations, Happy’s has something for every family member in every stage of life.
Long time Stevens County residents, Brian and Taunia have worked in the community for many years. Taunia pursued her dream of being a doula, assisting women in childbirth, and served the area in that capacity for nine years, far surpassing the burnout rate of two years in a stressful but rewarding job. Brian has worked at Mount Carmel Hospital for many years and previously volunteered as an EMT in the county.
Working in retail for many years, Taunia has was a Hallmark employee in shops from 1994-1998, growing a fondness for the company as she was exposed to the quality of their products and the positive message of family celebrations. “I always wanted to be able to own my own Hallmark,” Taunia says, but the opportunity in a small town never presented itself until she heard that Carl and Eileen were planning to retire.
Taunia had worked for the Bachs in the shop and was familiar with the business, the clientele and the other staff. At first, buying the business seemed out of reach for the Dechenne’s, but Taunia says that every reason she came up with to prevent them from taking over Happy’s was somehow resolved. “All of the excuses for why we couldn’t buy it, one got cancelled after the another.” And finally Taunia’s dream was realized when they took over Happy’s on June 16th.
For a mom with two young kids and a husband who works as an Emergency Room technician, taking on the full time job as a store owner has been no easy task. “This is my first ‘day off’ since we took over!” She laughs. More than a month after she started, her ‘day off’ is really just a morning home with her kids before she goes to the shop. “I’m there every day, behind the scenes,” she says. “My reward for getting all of my paperwork done is getting to work out front!” Lucky for Taunia, she has a great staff of employees that came along with the business, plus a couple of new additions that she says all work together on a common mission successfully. “I have the best team ever!” she gushes, “everybody supports each other!” At this point, even the kids are on board. “The newness hasn’t worn off,” she laughs, “they’re excited about it now…”
More than just maintaining the great tradition of Happy’s in Colville, Taunia is also bringing another big piece of Colville’s retail history to life in the gift shop as she moves Grandma Deanie’s candies into the shop. “My heart is to make this place the hub - like the pharmacy was when I was young,” a place where kids young and old come after school for a sweet treat and to meet friends. In addition to Grandma Deanie’s great candy selection, a line of specialty chocolates will be featured as well, for the more mature candy palate. The Dechenne’s are also adding a Christian Corner to the shop, where shoppers can buy Christian and religious supplies instead of traveling to Spokane to get them.
You can visit Happy’s on the corner of Main and 1st at 170 S. Main, and check out all of the new and traditional products that they are carrying. The Dechenne’s are planning an open house in September after all of their new product is in place. From party supplies to decorative trinkets, Happy’s has brought the quality of Hallmark to Colville for generations, and continues to do so under new ownership.
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