Family business grows with Valley

EDITOR’S NOTE: BLAST FROM THE PAST is a weekly article where we turn back the clock and see what was on the front page of our local newspapers years ago.

This unchanged article in particular ran on the front page of the Dec. 22, 1993, edition of the Shoshone News-Press. If you remember this story, or other BLAST FROM THE PAST articles, let us know by writing us or commenting online!

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By DEBORAH MELLON,

Former Staff Writer

KELLOGG — A lot of folks in the Silver Valley still call it Cobb’s, but owner Pat Elfsten doesn’t mind. If it wasn’t for his grandfather, W.D. Cobb, Pat probably wouldn’t be back in his hometown doing business with people he grew up with — Those his own age and those a tad bit older — or celebrating the 60th anniversary of a business most of the Silver valley has grown up with.

Pat’s granddad opened his store in 1933 after purchasing a second hand store on Mullan Avenue. Four years later, he borrowed $600 and traded his house in Coeur d’Alene for needed improvements. He supported his family of five with the store and following WWII, brought his son Jean and son-in-law (Don Elfsten, Pat’s dad) into the business. He sold it to the boys in 1949 and retired to southern Idaho, moving back to Coeur d’Alene a few years ago.

Don bought out his brother-in-law in 1955 and ran the store as a single owner, working along with his sons Mike and Pat while they were in high school. Opting for “semi-retirement,” Don passed the business on to Pat in 1986, after Pat returned from central California.

Elfsten has reveled in the ownership of the store, seeing bigger and better things in the business’s future. Two years after the purchase, Elfsten expanded the businesses when he purchases the old Shoshone Ford Dealership building and remodeled to fir his future needs. He also went into partnership with Distribution America, the largest hardware buying group in America and owner of the Trustworthy Hardware chain, which he says has been good for both the business and the customers.

“It’s been real positive for us,” said Elfsten. “We have increased out hardware line by at least 50 percent and with the facility expansion, there is a lot more room for everything.”

Elfsten learned the business at his father’s side, learning there are different types of buyers so there are different pricing structures. Elfsten carries a mix of items from carpet to appliance from the top of the line product to mid-range products for the budget-minded consumer.

“The hardest part of running this business is going to the markets,” said Elfsten. “Dad used to say there will be something you just love and others you just hate. His strategy was to buy a third of what he loved, a third of things he likes a lot and third of what he hated in furniture. There are some things i look at I can’t imagine anyone would want, but they will sell. Everyone has different tastes. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.”

Elfsten said it is challenging to make purchases for a small town, especially when there is an item that is a hot seller all over the country.

“Southwest items were really big a few years ago — now, warm green is the color,” said Elfsten. “You have so many different styles, colors and fabrics to choose from. You have to make good choices.”

Elfsten’s style of showcasing the furniture selections has been line which he says is constantly getting rave reviews.

“We arrange our furniture in a ‘vignette’ setting to give the customer a chance to see how the furniture fir with different groupings,” said Elfsten. “We include area rugs, tables, wall art and some sculpture so they can get a good feel.”

Elfsten has watched the business grow consistently after his relocation to Hill Street and considered it a very positive move. He said he has an open line to manufacturers for items not stocked in the store with quick delivery of large ticket items for customers who request something specific.

“We may not stock everything, but everything is available to us,” said Elfsten, who also does much of his trade in special order furniture. “We’ll special order just about anything the customer wants. We order many furniture items and lots of parts.”

Elfsten employs three full time and one part time personnel and is involved in his community when he can find the time, serving on the board of directors for the Kellogg Chamber of Commerce and being a past chairman of Kellogg Winter Games.