LAKE PARK – The Crooked Halo will relocate to downtown Lake Park and offer fresh flowers and events in their new digs come fall.
When the building located at 2030 St. 2 hit the market, business owners KC and JR Clark saw the opportunity to spread their wings with more space.
“We were looking at ways to make our business bigger and better,” she said. “When (the former cafe) came up for sale, we took a look at the building.”
The cafe closed at the end of November 2021 when the owners retired. Clark saw potential in the building. After peering through the false ceiling, she saw high crown molding ceilings, bricks from a long-forgotten fireplace, and natural wood planks under layers of vinyl flooring.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
The Clarks purchased the building on August 12 and have been busy remodeling with work planned for the interior and exterior of the building. All the work is being done by the family during their “spare time” as they both have full time jobs.
“My husband is a police officer in White Earth and I work for the ambulance there,” Clark said, adding that they also have an 18-year-old daughter who attends North Dakota State University and two sons, 11 and 9.
The business is currently located on US Highway 10. The space offered storage and a showroom, which was a perfect option for their initial needs.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
The new building has a different layout that offers a large 1,000 square foot showroom that will continue to offer fun, unique and artistic gifts, decor, apparel and more. They’re also planning to add to the men’s gift section (which currently boasts uniquely scented bottles, knickknacks and candles).
Regardless of where a shopper finds themselves in the store, Clark said the pricing will always serve the “middle class.”
“Our prices reflect that,” she said.
They will also have an event room to host festive events and social nights out on the town. Clark said some themed events she has considered include painting, learning about succulents and figuring out what herbs to use in cooking.
Clark, who lives in Hawley with her husband JR, started the business 15 years ago at flea markets and road shows. They made connections with other small business owners making unique and quality products while traveling.
The Clarks decided to look to the future of Crooked Halo as their children entered high school. In September 2019, Crooked Halo opened in Lake Park.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
“I love that our business provides support to other small businesses,” she said, noting that they also make mugs, hats, greeting cards and magnets with grim sayings. “Our products are sold in 49 states and five countries.”
The Hawleys settled on Lake Park as a place of business for several reasons. She noted that there were no stores available in their community and feared she would be lost in the bustling boutique shops of Detroit Lakes.
“I grew up in Detroit Lakes and my husband grew up in Ogema,” she said, noting that she graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 2000 and her husband was a graduate of Waubun High School in 1997.
The two rented a former bait shop that had been built in 1974 but was vacant.
“Lake Park provides strong community support for the little boy,” she said. “When COVID hit and closed non-essential businesses, we saw that support when we could reopen. I really believe we survived because of local support.”
Crooked Halo store hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are open by appointment only.
“I recommend checking out our Facebook page,” Clark said. “If it’s a slower day, we may change the hours due to renovation work.”