New owner Erin White at Winthrop’s Retro Pony shop.

Pony Up, Pony Down
New owner, new store
story and photos by Karen West

The Retro Pony western shop on Winthrop’s boardwalk has a new owner—Erin White of Twisp. It was a “quiet,” word-of-mouth sale, according to White and previous owner Jenni Tissell, who said the sale closed on May 14.

Tissell, who started Retro Pony about five years ago, recently opened Trick Pony, a vintage shop in Twisp. “We moved south of Twisp; my boy is a teenager and I want to spend more time with him, and I haven’t had enough time to make jewelry,” Tissell said by way of explaining why she and husband Craig sold the Winthrop shop.

White, who grew up here and graduated from Liberty Bell High School, said she used to be a regular shopper at Retro Pony. “I spent all my husband’s money here so he finally bought it for me,” she quipped. She is married to Tom White, who also owns White Logging and Methow Valley Septic, both based in Twisp.

The Whites have three children—sons, Tanner, 12, and Cody, 9, and daughter Shelby, 11, who is looking forward to helping her mom in the shop.

Erin White said she gained early retail experience working in her mother’s Country Square shop in Twisp while she was growing up. She also worked retail while attending college. After college she worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines based in New York.

“I didn’t know how much I missed the valley until I moved back and married a country boy,” she said.

Jenni Tissell and her son, Jesse, 14, who will help his mom this summer at the Trick Pony in Twisp.

Tissell mentioned that once her new shop was established in Twisp she might sell Retro Pony, and White told her she might be interested in buying it. “I always knew I wanted to do something out of the house with the public,” she said.

No changes are planned. “I will continue with western wear and items and will be focusing on handcrafted local jewelry,” White said. Employee Heidi Larsen is staying on and the shop will continue to feature Larsen’s pottery and leather jewelry, some of which is made from “re-purposed belts,” according to White.

White said she is planning a “new owner’s party” with local specials, perhaps in June. The Retro Pony is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

The Trick Pony is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

Tissell calls her new shop “my funky junk store…It’s not consignment, not a thrift store, not an antique store. Vintage is what I’m focusing on,” she said. New clothing with a vintage look also will be stocked.

“I am still carrying my jewelry here and I will probably have more very soon,” Tissell added.

She also said, “I’d like to say thank you to all my wonderful customers and dear friends for all the years of support [in Winthrop].”

5/20/2013

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