Discover hidden gems at Lisa's Gems of Silver Valley

KELLOGG — The Silver Valley is filled with individuals that turn their creative passions into products. Whether it be clothing, art, soaps or edible creations though — getting those items on a store shelf to be noticed and purchased can be difficult.

Craft fairs and farmers markets can be a temporary alternative, but these options only last for a certain period of time.

What is truly sought by these crafty folks is a steady and consistent venue that can offer their products year-round in a comfortable environment.

That is what co-owners Lisa Beaman and Lisa Jackson hope to accomplish (along with providing their own products) with their new store in uptown Kellogg — Lisa’s Gems of Silver Valley.

Welcomed by the pleasant scent of soaps and chocolates, potential customers showed up to the new business for its grand opening on Nov. 15.

The west part of the building is reserved for the products of the owners, which are handcrafted soaps by Beaman and handcrafted chocolates by Jackson. The east side of the building and loft are filled with various creations from local vendors.

The breadth of talent in the Silver Valley can really be noticed when walking through, as the available products range wildly from artwork and jewelry to clothing, food and more.

Just like the many creators of the vendor products, it was a creative drive that swayed Beaman (a 14-year resident of the Silver Valley) and Jackson (a native of the Silver Valley) to open the business in a relatively short amount of time.

The two met roughly a year ago when Jackson was serving as a caregiver for Beaman’s elderly father. The two immediately hit it off and began to spend a lot of time with each other.

It was over coffee one day that the idea for the business was first discussed.

Beaman explained, “we were kind of just joking around one day over coffee. (Jackson) said ‘well I make chocolates. I used to make chocolate and I called it Sadie’s Chocolates.’ And I said ‘oh, well I make soaps and mine are (named) Organically Eden.”

Over the year, the two started playing with the idea of opening a shop together that provided both of their products.

Then after Beaman’s father was diagnosed with dementia and had to be checked into a retirement facility, the joke of opening a store suddenly turned serious.

They initially looked at a different building than the one they are in now, but turned it down because it lacked the proper facilities for both of them to make their products.

In October though, the right building finally became available.

“Hey guess what? The Bitterroot building is open!” Beaman said at the time, “This building has always been my favorite building.”

After checking out the property in uptown Kellogg on Oct. 9, the dynamic duo signed the papers the next day.

Unlike the first building they looked at, this property had lots of space for both of them to make soap and chocolate. They quickly realized that they could fit everything in one room.

Scratching their heads, the two wondered what to do with what was essentially an open space until Jackson had the idea of creating a sort of year-round farmers market.

“It just unfolded in front of my eyes,” she said.

Jackson, who sold her products at the popular farmers market in Kellogg this year, wanted to invite other vendors to sell their products in the empty space.

With one of their main goals being to strengthen the community, they greenlit the plan and before they knew it, they had 24 (26 counting themselves) different vendors setting up their products in their shop.

“Everything that we have touched has come together,” Beaman said. “We are all diamonds in the rough and the valley is known for the gems that come out of the mines, so it came together.”

Speaking of gems, Jackson also came up with the name of the business, playing on the area’s history with mining and that the creative vendor products are not widely known about.

“All the treasures of the Silver Valley,” she said. “Everybody has something to bring to the table, so we named it Lisa’s Gems of the Silver Valley to highlight all the talent.”

Although the two are the owners of the establishment, both say that the vendors play a role as well.

“Each of the vendors are kind of like the owners of their own little space,” Jackson said.

Three days in, it is still too soon to say if their unique idea is a success; but for what they have accomplished so far, both Beaman and Jackson believe that God has made it possible.

“He’s helping us help all the other vendors,” Jackson said.

Looking forward, Lisa’s Gems of the Silver Valley plans to host classes in their loft area so that others can learn about certain crafts, while also getting the community more involved year-round.

Their hope is that the success of the store will contribute to a revitalization of uptown Kellogg and Kellogg as a whole.

“We want to work with business owners in the community,” Beaman said. “If we work hand in hand, Kellogg can be up-and-coming.”

Lisa’s Gems of the Silver Valley is located at 117 McKinley Ave. in Kellogg and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

To learn more, like them on Facebook or call them at 208-457-5007.