News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Lynn Barclay is retiring from Rainbow Connection.
Lynn Barclay is calling it a career after nearly 32 years providing children's clothing and toys at Rainbow Connection.
More than three decades ago, her sister-in-law Susan Busic "went back east and saw this really cute store," Barclay recalled.
The two decided to go into business together, selling handmade, homemade toys and kites.
"Then we got into the original Cabbage Patch dolls from Georgia," Barclay said.
Barclay and her fellow merchants staged events and fashion shows to create a little commercial excitement in what was then a very small town.
"Our very first employees were Jill and Deri Frazee," Barclay recalled. "They were just good, fantastic workers."
Her daughter Stephanie Barclay worked at Rainbow Connection from age 14 to age 31, mostly managing the ice cream parlor that was for 28 years an important part of the business.
Barclay has enjoyed building relationships with customers that span decades.
"They'll come back and they'll say, 'This is my 20-year-old son I used to buy baby clothes for' - and he's six-foot-two!"
For all the joys of retail in Sisters, Barclay has also had to cope with the burdens - a daily commute from Bend and the inability to leave the store for any extended period during the busy summer season. She's planning to change that now.
"It'll be nice to be able to enjoy my summers a little - and finally see the quilts (during Quilt Show) instead of the backs of them all the time," she said.
There is a storewide sale underway at Rainbow Connection, which is located at 170 W. Cascade Ave. in Barclay Square. For more information call 541-549-7201.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)