Sheri Avery and her husband took over Whetstone last month. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Before Madalyn Hopkins planned to shutter her decades-old North Boulevard furniture and upholstery company, Whetstone, the broker who had been trying to help sell the business asked her to take one last meeting.
A local nurse, Sherri Avery, and her husband, Don Avery, were interested in buying a business to run in the next chapter of their lives. Hopkins had had Whetstone on the market for about a year, passing on various offers she didn’t think were serious and was in the process of winding it down.
“She was very picky about finding a buyer,” Sherri Avery said she was told by broker Jim Fontaine of Transworld.
This time was different.
The Averys last month became the new owners of Whetstone, which operates out of a 3,000-square-foot storefront at 1122 N. Boulevard. The deal included Whetstone’s brand, fabrics, equipment and furnishings and was financed through NewTech Financing and Associates.
Whetstone’s North Boulevard storefront.
Not only did the Averys hit it off with Hopkins, who still owns the store’s real estate, the husband-and-wife team found a business that fit their model for a small company they could grow.
“I think we were probably conjoined twins from another life,” Avery said of Hopkins. “I never really believed in love at first sight. I instantly had a connection with Madalyn. When I walked into the front door of the business I just felt like this is where I was supposed to be.”
Before finalizing the deal to buy Whetstone, Avery shadowed Hopkins on her days off from nursing to get a better picture of the business’ day-to-day operations.
“Madalyn has been spoon-feeding me and showing me the ropes,” Avery said.
Madalyn Hopkins
The Averys have kept the company’s longtime upholsterer, his assistant and a seamstress. Whetstone has four full-time employees.
“We’re going to keep everything pretty much the same,” Avery said, adding that as she gets a better handle on the business she plans to do some cosmetic renovations to the storefront.
Avery has been a nurse for 28 years but is now running Whetstone full-time.
“I was ready for a new chapter in my life,” Avery said, adding that her husband, who has an MBA from Colorado State University, continues to work for an x-ray company.
“I’ve always loved design,” she said. “I’ve got the arts and my husband’s got the smarts.”
The Averys join a stretch of Boulevard that’s been in transition this year. Ice cream maker Gelati Celesti has plans to open at 1400 N. Boulevard, and in January, Boulevard Burger & Brew opened at 1300 N. Boulevard. On Whetstone’s block, Sheppard Street Antiques is gearing up for a fall opening, and across the street the former Car Pool property is up for lease.
Sheri Avery and her husband took over Whetstone last month. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Before Madalyn Hopkins planned to shutter her decades-old North Boulevard furniture and upholstery company, Whetstone, the broker who had been trying to help sell the business asked her to take one last meeting.
A local nurse, Sherri Avery, and her husband, Don Avery, were interested in buying a business to run in the next chapter of their lives. Hopkins had had Whetstone on the market for about a year, passing on various offers she didn’t think were serious and was in the process of winding it down.
“She was very picky about finding a buyer,” Sherri Avery said she was told by broker Jim Fontaine of Transworld.
This time was different.
The Averys last month became the new owners of Whetstone, which operates out of a 3,000-square-foot storefront at 1122 N. Boulevard. The deal included Whetstone’s brand, fabrics, equipment and furnishings and was financed through NewTech Financing and Associates.
Whetstone’s North Boulevard storefront.
Not only did the Averys hit it off with Hopkins, who still owns the store’s real estate, the husband-and-wife team found a business that fit their model for a small company they could grow.
“I think we were probably conjoined twins from another life,” Avery said of Hopkins. “I never really believed in love at first sight. I instantly had a connection with Madalyn. When I walked into the front door of the business I just felt like this is where I was supposed to be.”
Before finalizing the deal to buy Whetstone, Avery shadowed Hopkins on her days off from nursing to get a better picture of the business’ day-to-day operations.
“Madalyn has been spoon-feeding me and showing me the ropes,” Avery said.
Madalyn Hopkins
The Averys have kept the company’s longtime upholsterer, his assistant and a seamstress. Whetstone has four full-time employees.
“We’re going to keep everything pretty much the same,” Avery said, adding that as she gets a better handle on the business she plans to do some cosmetic renovations to the storefront.
Avery has been a nurse for 28 years but is now running Whetstone full-time.
“I was ready for a new chapter in my life,” Avery said, adding that her husband, who has an MBA from Colorado State University, continues to work for an x-ray company.
“I’ve always loved design,” she said. “I’ve got the arts and my husband’s got the smarts.”
The Averys join a stretch of Boulevard that’s been in transition this year. Ice cream maker Gelati Celesti has plans to open at 1400 N. Boulevard, and in January, Boulevard Burger & Brew opened at 1300 N. Boulevard. On Whetstone’s block, Sheppard Street Antiques is gearing up for a fall opening, and across the street the former Car Pool property is up for lease.