BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
For 41 years, Jane Drussel has kept the Wood River Valley supplied with everything from balloons and decorations to greeting cards, office, arts and craft supplies, along with extensive printing services. But those days are now over.
The first Jane’s Paper Place was in Giacobbi Square in Ketchum. For residents and visitors alike, going to Jane’s for scotch tape and a notebook, and stocking up on hilarious cards, was part of the day. In 2004, she expanded the store to Hailey before selling the business. Eventually, she and her husband, Ken, reopened under a new name, Jane’s Artifacts, specializing in holiday décor and accoutrements.
Drussel is closing Jane’s Artifacts to concentrate on her Hailey Thrift Shop just steps away in Alturas Plaza. After the bills, all proceeds from the thrift store are donated to The Senior Connection’s Meals on Wheels program.
The donations confirm Drussel’s commitment to community and seniors while generating a nexus for social interaction and care. She’s seen the Valley transform dramatically and has definite opinions about what is needed.
“Community will not survive without having some type of downtown, and it can’t just be real estate offices and jiu-jitsu,” she said. “It has to be mom-and-pop retail. In reality, I probably should have closed a few years ago,” she said. “But it’s in my heart. I love the community, I love the kids, and they need a place for school supplies and birthday party gifts, stuff like that, here in town, a few blocks from their home.”
Drussel acknowledged the difficulty of running a business in the current climate. Rents are high and “you’ve also got to pay people enough money to live here,” she said. “Then the tariffs came along. Tariffs are a tax. I don’t care how much they scream and shout that they’re not, they are. The concept was that retailers would pass them on to the customer. If you’re a big chain, you’ve got the volume to absorb it. If you’re a small mom and pop, you can’t absorb. It hits your bottom line.”
“It’s a big hit,” she said. “Then the credit card companies charge a small fortune for us as businesspeople. I do hope the community stays optimistic, finds new ways, and continues to support local. If new businesses open, please support them as best you can. I understand that pricing is an issue, and we can’t get everything here in this geography. I understand that, completely. I just would like to see it be vibrant again.”
Drussel will continue to bring her own brand of vibrancy to the community. Her activities include the 5 Bee Quilt Guild, which creates quilts that are donated to hospitals and hospice, as well as Camp Rainbow Gold, the free camp for Idaho children diagnosed with cancer.
“I’m not a sit-around-er, I like to work, and I truly love the community,” she said.
Jane’s will be having a going away party Thursday, April 16th 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Interactive Game Night
