Our Story

Hi, I’m Cari. I grew up in Louis Creek, where my parents ran the Louis Creek General Store. Our house was actually attached to the shop, so it was an integral part of our day-to-day lives. That early environment—which included a post office, bottle depot, and rural mail delivery—is where I first learned the values of communication, customer service, and flexibility.

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As a teenager, I spent many summers working at the fruit stand my parents opened on the highway frontage (the current location of The Local). Growing up here meant one-room schoolhouses, 4-H, Fall Fairs, and a deep appreciation for rural living. Eventually, the fruit stand was sold, and the General Store transitioned into an antique shop. During that time, I was away at university earning my BA and BEd. I went on to have a successful teaching career in Kamloops, but in 2021, the stars aligned for me to return to my childhood neighborhood and reopen the shuttered building.

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Making such a significant life change has been exhilarating. As a teacher, I was regularly encouraged to 'know my why.' When the time came for this transition, my 'why' was clear: I wanted a work environment that was flexible, fun, and creative. It was important to me to have the ability to make immediate changes when needed and, above all, to create an environment that fostered joy—for me, my staff, our artists, and our customers.