The Other Store brings variety to Main Street

WORLAND – Back in February, Dan Mattis and Naomi Durrant started discussing and working on an idea for a coffee shop/variety store at 1316 Big Horn Ave. and quickly created The Other Store which opened last Monday, Aug. 2.

Mattis and Durrant, co-owners, have worked together for more than seven years in a professional capacity as Durrant has directed plays around the community with Mattis creating the sets for the stage. Both Durrant and Mattis have had experience in building and refurbishing furniture.

Mattis said that he came to own the property and originally intended to use it as storage, but Durrant said the origin of the store originally came from a joke that she wanted to sell donuts and Mattis always had a dream of selling sandwiches.

"We just started to get this vision that we could do a cool little coffee shop in here," Durrant said.

While Worland does feature multiple drive-thru coffee shops, The Other Store brings a unique perspective as the only focused sit-down coffee shop in town.

With the floor already being refurbished in the building, much of the construction for the tables and benches was done by Mattis and Durrant in a short period of time.

"We are used to working really hard for a short period of time, and then we do a performance and it is over," Durrant said. "For this one it was six months and now the performance just does not end."

They were shocked at the reception they received the first day after they did a quiet opening as opposed to a grand opening, and were able to receive repeat customers despite the smaller opening.

The name "The Other Store" came from a store that was located in Laramie when Durrant lived there and she thought it was a unique name for a store.

Mattis and Durrant joked that they also liked the name because then when people say "let's go to the other store" then that means the name will ring more true in their head.

The menu includes breakfast and lunch items all made in house, along with coffee and caffeinated items which includes an item called "The Other Soda." This drink is the shop's take on an Italian Soda which has an actual soda base with added flavors.

Durrant and Mattis said that they are able to change certain items on the menu and that it will be changing based on their perception of how the item is selling, along with customer feedback.

The Other Store is already planning to expand into an adjoining room. This part of the shop will be called "The Other Store Next Door" and will feature an area for board games, cards games such as Dungeons and Dragons, antiques/collectibles and a pool table for people to hang out at.

The pair wanted to create a fun area for youth to come and play their games and have fun, and will even host different game nights once the area is completed. No date is set at this time for the completion of The Other Store Next Door.

Another addition they hope to add is a full-size kitchen, along with a conference room that people can rent and enjoy meeting in.

Durrant and Mattis also plan to include live music, date nights and karaoke nights into the coffee shop section of the store.

Currently, the store is open from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturdays while closed on Sundays.

The store plans to extend hours from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. during weekdays for the school year, with hours for Saturday during the school year undetermined at this time.