New business, inn open in LaCrosse

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Jan 25, 20180

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LaX business

Iva Roberts is surrounded by antiques and art ready for sale at Our Cache in LaCrosse. Roberts has also recently opened The Inn which provides lodging for up to six people.

What do you do with years of collected stuff saved for the kids when the kids do not want it?

Sell it.

That was Iva Roberts’ solution which has developed into Our Cache, an antique, consignment and art store set to open later this month in LaCrosse.

“We wanted artists in the first place, but everything we get seems to be antiques,” she said.

Our Cache is run by a team of Roberts, the collector; Ashley Goolsby, the artist, and Milt Aldrich, the businessman.

The building, located on Main Street in LaCrosse between Jasper Trucking and Outlaw Meats, is owned by Aldrich, but he did not know what he wanted to do with it. He started talking with Roberts and Goolsby, who is Roberts’ daughter, and they decided to put a shop in, which is a new venture for all of them.

“I just wanted to get rid of the junk in my basement,” Roberts said. She had collected antiques over the years from stores, garage sales and junk sales.

They started accepting consignment items, hoping to attract artists and hand-crafted items.

“There’s just a lot of talented people in the area, and I’d like to showcase that for them,” she said.

“We’re definitely looking for artists.”

In addition to Goolsby, who makes two-part lacquered dry flowers, they already have signs from an artist in Pomeroy and miniature, hand-decorated houses.

So far, Our Cache has received “a big mixture” of antiques coming in from consigners. Another person refinishes furniture and is set to bring some of those items in. Roberts noted that a lot of people in town have wanted to bring consignments in.

“We’re pretty reasonable in the things we accept,” she said.

All consignments start with a 30-day contract so inventory can be rotated and there will be room for others. The store does not accept clothing.

There are plans for a website to be up and running soon. Until then, anyone interested in putting items in the store can call 509-549-4444.

The Inn

Although Roberts has never run a business before, she is doubling down now getting Our Cache running right after opening The Inn.

“It’s kind of weird opening two businesses at one time,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people who come here looking for a place to stay.”

The Inn is a house given to Roberts by her friend Celeste Mills who was a long-time LaCrosse resident.

“We’d been talking about doing a bed and breakfast forever,” she said.

When Mills moved away she gave the house to Roberts who turned it into a full-stocked lodging able to sleep six. She converted a sunroom into a bedroom and stocked the cupboards with towels and dishes. It has a full kitchen, washer and dryer, yard and covered porch with outdoor furniture. There is also an enclosed gazebo with heat and windows.

“The kitchen is fully stocked, too, all the way to a blender,” she said.

While LaCrosse does not always have heavy traffic, Roberts said they get hunters, photographers and family members who come and need a place to stay. She expects to be able to fill that need with The Inn.

A lot of the artwork adorning the walls was painted by Mills. There are a few antique touches among the homey décor as well that had also been Mills’.

“It’s just a cute little house,” Roberts said.

To make reservation for The Inn, call Roberts at 509-288-1028.