Coram woman opens Christmas store, and it’s busy, busy
The Baldellis at their Everything Christmas Store in Kalispell. From left, is Leland, 5,Chris, 6, Cassie, Jeff and Mary, 3.
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News
Cassie Baldelli (Stoneman) could have taken it easy. After all, she and her family ran Glacier Raft Co. for years as well as a guest ranch in Coram.
The raft company sold to Pursuit earlier this year. So outside of the ranch, Baldelli had summer “off,” save for its multitude of guests and other events.
In addition, she also has three young children.
But Baldelli isn’t one for relaxation. In August she got the idea of buying into the Everything Christmas franchise.
“I was little bored,” she said with a smile as people shopped in the newly-opened store on Saturday.
Everything Christmas is just what the name implies — all sorts of Christmas-themed items, from Santa Clauses to reindeer antler headwear.
Saturday was the soft opening of the store at the former Pier 1 in Kalispell and this Saturday is the grand opening. In between now and then, more than 50 shipments of Christmas goodies are expected to arrive.
She’s also featuring local vendors as well.
The store is a pop-up store. They’ll have a big sale after Christmas and close up shop Dec. 31 until next year, she said.
Baldelli is an ’05 graduate of Columbia Falls. She helped lead the girls soccer team to a state title in 2004.
After high school, she went to University of North Carolina Wilmington, majored in business and graduated in three years. Out of college she worked selling medical supplies for Johnson and Johnson. Ten years ago, Baldelli and her husband Jeff, bought into Glacier Raft Co., which was co-owned by her father Darwon Stoneman.
The family sold the raft company to Pursuit Glacier Park Collection earlier this year.
Baldelli went from running a raft company with 190 employees to running a busy, but comparatively modest guest ranch, Glacier Homestead Ranch, with her father and her mother, Terri.
“I missed the community involvement I had with the raft company,” Baldelli said. “This (Christmas Store) is my way to give something back.”
The store will feature a host of events from now until Christmas and is donating wrapping paper for Ruder Elementary students to use to wrap gifts. It’s also helping out with the annual Toys for Tots campaign.
The store itself is very kid friendly. Big tables with crayon and color books keep youngsters busy while parents shop. Santa will also be there on Saturdays.
There’s a grand opening party from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 with Mimosas, giveaways and dessert; a cookie decorating class with Moonlight Bakes Bakery on Dec. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. and a wreath decorating class on Dec. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Folks can follow the store on Instagram and Facebook at @everythingchristmasmt