BIZ BITS: Another revival for Lewiston clothing store

A scene from the children’s classic storybook “Where the Wild Things Are” is painted on a wall above a toy kitchen and bean bag chairs at Bee’s Knees Resale in downtown Lewiston.

The addition of an area for children to play while their parents shop is part of the store’s transition under Bethany Peterson, the retailer’s new owner.

Peterson acquired the fixtures, displays, racks and hangers from Krystle Monda, the owner of Grateful Threads, a similar business that had been in the same space at 628 Main St. before it closed in late February.

Peterson is putting a new spin on the shop that sells high-quality, gently used clothing, toys and baby gear, drawing on the shop’s 20-year history.

Her take includes what she learned when she owned it from 2016-19 and what’s been popular under other owners since its founding by Tara Bren as Born Again Resale in the Lewiston Orchards.

Like Born Again Resale, Bee’s Knees carries a wide selection of maternity and children’s clothing as well as toys, play mats, swings and bouncy seats. Like Grateful Threads, it has men’s and women’s clothing and welcomes all customers, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Customers can still make private shopping appointments just as they could at Grateful Threads.

New touches are part of the mix, too, such as books for people of all ages and an invitation for every child to take a title home for free.

“Our focus is to be affordable and have something for the whole family,” Peterson said.

In its off hours, the store can be reserved for activities such as group fitness classes, baby showers and birthday parties that can include opportunities to shop.

The way Bee’s Knees acquires its inventory has changed, too. Just like Grateful Threads, it only accepts undamaged items in good condition without rips, stains or tears. But it buys goods outright, aiming for about 20% to 40% of what shoppers pay.

Grateful Threads had a consignment model where people were paid a percentage of the sale price of anything that sold.

The decisions about how to run Bee’s Knees have been part of a homecoming to the store that has been rewarding, said Peterson, who is continuing to operate a house cleaning business she’s had for 20 years.

It’s been enjoyable, Peterson said, seeing customers she knew when she had the store previously and meeting people who began patronizing it when it was Grateful Threads.

“It’s such a niche in the community,” Peterson said. “People love coming here and shopping.”

Bee’s Knees is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The buying hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. It also has buying hours one Saturday a month that rotates.

Cosmetologist opens Style Bar Beauty Academy in Lewiston

An individualized approach is the speciality of Style Bar Beauty Academy, a new cosmetology school in Lewiston.

The school limits each class to five students who complete a 1,600-hour curriculum of classes and supervised hands-on training in 10 to 12 months, said Anna Estrada, the owner of the school.

The school’s first class started in January and the second one is scheduled to begin in the middle of July. A third class will begin in October or November.

The curriculum includes cutting, styling, coloring and perming hair as well as doing facials, manicures and pedicures. Students also learn how to wax off unwanted hair, and adhere gel and acrylic artificial nails.

In addition to mastering the fundamentals of being a cosmetologist, students have opportunities to pick specialized skills to learn, Estrada said.

“They’re prepared to take the state boards,” she said.

Estrada brings 14 years as a cosmetologist and nine years as a certified cosmetology instructor to the venture.

A former instructor at Mr. Leon’s and Headmasters in Lewiston, she chose to open her school after Mr. Leon’s closed.

She continues to work as a cosmetologist in her salon, The Parlor Salon, which is in the same building as the school at 1525 Idaho St. The proximity of the businesses benefits the cosmetology school. Stylists at The Parlor Salon often demonstrate techniques for her students, Estrada said.

Information about enrolling in Style Bar Beauty Academy is available by emailing stylebarbeautyacademy@gmail.com.

Faster internet service comes to Clarkston neighborhood thanks to port project

About 1,000 households in the neighborhood surrounding Grantham Elementary School now have access to faster internet service through a recently completed Port of Clarkston project.

Summit Utility Contractors installed fiber telecommunications lines in an area north of Chestnut Street and south of Fair Street between Sixth and 13th streets in Clarkston, according to a news release from the Port of Clarkston.

The lines connect homes and businesses with an existing telecommunications network of the Port of Clarkston, said Port of Clarkston Executive Director Chris Rasmussen in an email.

Through agreements with internet service providers such as Airbridge Broadband, First Step Internet, Inland Cellular, Intermax Networks and Rodeo Networks, customers can have speeds as fast as 100 megabits per second for downloads and uploads, Rasmussen said.

Previously average speeds in the area were about 25 megabits per second for downloads and three megabits per second for uploads, he said.

The port completed the project with a $1.77 million grant from the Washington State Public Works Board that was a pass-through of America Rescue Plan Act money capital projects fund from the U.S. Department of Treasury, according to the news release.

The port contributed $23,000.

Dahlinger takes over as owner of Moscow Realty

MOSCOW — Jessica Dahlinger is the sole proprietor and designated broker of Moscow Realty after the departure of Samantha DeVoe.

The agency specializes in residential property in Moscow and surrounding areas, including homes and vacant lots.

Dahlinger’s stake in Moscow Realty continues its tradition of being owned and operated by University of Idaho alumni since 1947, according to a news release from Moscow Realty.

Besides Dahlinger, the team of Realtors at Moscow Realty includes Angela Farnham Bryant, Bill Hall, Deanna Kiblen, Sharon Mack, Joe McGurkin, an associate broker, and Jen Pfiffner, a broker in Washington.

In addition to her new role at Moscow Realty, Dahlinger was recently appointed to the Idaho Real Estate Commission by Idaho Gov. Brad Little. The commission regulates real estate brokerage activity and real estate licenses in Idaho.

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.