Looking for a new pair of Texas-made Fenoglio boots, to get your cowboy hat cleaned or maybe just a nice western shirt to wear out on weekends? The new Saddle Bum Western Store in downtown Centralia has just what you're looking for.
With its soft-opening set for Saturday, May 20, the family-owned and operated store hopes to attract shoppers looking for classic country-chic clothing and accessories. It will be located at 328 N. Tower Ave., and to start, will be open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jeannie Gluck, a Lewis County resident for most of her life, wanted a store that offered western-style clothing along with cowboy hat cleaning. After Rockin R Hats in Centralia closed, she decided to open her own store.
Her goal is to create a family-oriented store with a laid-back atmosphere.
“Your kids can play here and it will not be odd to see my grandson running amok because he’ll be there every day,” Jeannie Gluck said.
As for the soft-opening itself, she plans to give away a brand new pair of Fenoglio boots to a lucky customer and customers who shop during Saturday’s soft-opening will also enjoy a 20% discount.
Additionally, Jim Smith, of the Adna Grocery Store, will provide complimentary meats, cheeses, beer and wine for customers to enjoy.
While she also wants to do cowboy hat shaping — as it’s a service potential customers have already been asking for — Saddle Bum won’t be able to offer it starting opening day.
“It’s something that we will offer, we just have to get trained how to do it first,” said Jeannie Gluck. “When we first open the focus will be mainly on clothes, but we’d also like to venture into home decor and rodeo gear for kids and adults.”
Prior to opening Saddle Bum Western Wear, Gluck has been helping her husband run Centerstage Construction Inc. in Winlock for the past 12 years. She plans to continue helping him run it while the couple’s daughter, Natalie Gluck, will help Jeannie Gluck with Saddle Bum.
Natalie Gluck has been riding horses since she was 5-years-old for 4-H before going on to compete in local junior rodeos and even the Northwest Pro Rodeo Association, competing in events in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
One other thing both Jeannie and Natalie Gluck were excited to offer customers is custom boot orders. Anyone interested will be able to design their own Fenoglio boots in the store and have them shipped directly to Saddle Bum to pick up.
Jeannie Gluck’s son, Nathaniel, who is a volunteer firefighter in Napavine, will also help out with the family’s new store along with other extended family members.
Following Saddle Bum’s soft-opening this Saturday, the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will hold the store’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 7. For more information, email shopsaddlebum@gmail.com.
