Kuntry Kutter closes; owners reflect on success, loyal customers

July 29, 2021 | 12:09 am

Updated July 28, 2021 | 11:26 pm

After nearly 35 years in the antique and giftware business, Kuntry Kutter closed its doors permanently on Wednesday. With the help of her husband Carl, Brenda Millay moved the store from Stanley to 18th street in 2012. 

Located at 122 E. 18th St. and erected in 1944, the building served as a fire department during its earliest years, as is evident from its frame. The Millays are selling the building to Kelsey Carrico — occupational therapist and owner of Hand Therapy Plus. 

“I’m scared, to be honest; we’ve been doing this for a long time,” Brenda Millay said. “Everyone has been so good to us. We have had some very loyal customers. I made sure to take their addresses down so I could go visit them even after closing the store.”

The Millays first opened the shop at their home in Stanley when they purchased an old caboose from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad for $3,000 and had it delivered to their home. A few short years later and after exponential growth, Carl decided to construct an additional gift shop to accompany the caboose. 

They sold their home and the Stanley location to the Owensboro Buddhist Association when they moved to town. The home presently houses two monks, while the gift store now serves as a monastery. 

During the early 1990s, the Beanie Babies craze propelled Kuntry Kutter to new heights, establishing them customers from all over the region. Many of those same customers remained loyal through the years that ensued, including the most recent one that encompassed many challenges. 

“We had people come to see us from all over. Several individuals that would see us as kids would move off to college, but they always visited us when they returned for the holidays,” Brenda said. “We have had very loyal customers — even during COVID; they would still come because they knew I would have the store cleaned and sanitized and have protocols in place to keep them safe.”

Kuntry Kutter’s name traces its heritage back to Brenda’s days as a hairdresser when she “cut hair in the country.” When she decided to convert the store into her full-time job, she said she kept the name so people would know it was her.

As technology continues to infiltrate stores, Millay said it was becoming a struggle to “keep up.” That, paired with the couple’s desire to travel, made it the perfect time to retire. 

“It’s getting where you have to do everything on the computer — this coming year, they want us to do our sales taxes on there — it’s probably a good thing we’re getting out,” she said. “Carl is legally blind, and we want to see and experience places before he can’t see at all.”

While she hardly considers her time with Kuntry Kutter work, Brenda looks forward to spending more time with her five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

“I’ve loved antiques since I got married. It’s not like I ever had to work; the most work I’ve done is cleaning up this store to sell it,” she said. “We’ve always had a house full of antiques — this has been a lot of fun for us.”

July 29, 2021 | 12:09 am

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