Zainab Al-Mehdar
Campbell’s Bay Dec. 22
The 74-year old business owner, Lizanne Kluke, of Campbell’s Bay, has been a model in the community. One of the few businesses that were still open on Front street, Cadeaux Evangeline gift shop bids adieu after almost 20 years of serving the community.
Since Kluke and her husband, Willard . . .
moved to Campbell’s Bay in 1977 they have been entrepreneurs who started multiple businesses in the community such as Snack Shack and Kluke’s Corner.
It wasn’t until she and her husband sold the Snack Shack in 2000 that Kluke realized she still had so much to offer and retiring might need to be put on hold. “I realized [retiring] wasn’t for me, what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?
At the time, her husband encouraged her to go after her dream of opening her own gift shop, after she realized she could not sit idle she went for it. Ever since, she said, “It’s what I love doing, there wasn’t a day that I didn’t want to come to work.”
Because she and her husband who are business partners have roots in the community and got involved when they opened it, it was “well-received” said Kluke, she didn’t have to introduce herself as she was well known.
“There wasn’t a time when I didn’t want to be [in the gift shop]. I love it here, and I love the people,” she said. She always felt supported by the community and her gift shop was a place people could come to gather, visit her for a chat and do their shopping, she explained.
She sold everything from holiday-related gifts to baby gifts, to have a whole department dedicated to men’s gifts and some clothing. There wasn’t anything Kluke didn’t try in her store, she confidently said her motto was, “if I don’t have it, you don’t need it.”
One of the most devastating times for her was when, four years into her business, it burned down. It was also when she felt the most support from her community and saw them rally beside her and help her rebuild, “My husband said why don’t you start over and the town was behind me.” Due to all the support, she was able to reopen four months after.
Kluke told The Equity that the reason she loved having her own business was the creative freedom and never having to consult anyone–other than her husband who always agreed with her and they were able to see eye to eye. She highlighted that the store was a part of her, like her baby to take care of and look after it to make sure everything is done the way you like it. What she enjoyed the most was, “always being able to express myself through my store,” she said.
When asked what she is looking forward to most during retirement she said just staying healthy and enjoying the time she has, because she pointed out that she and her husband, of 55 years, lived a full life, never putting anything on the backburner, “my husband and I have travelled a lot when we wanted to do something we would do it.” She recalled that in 1985 they took their motorcycle and drove 32 days to get to California, and highlighted that she wouldn’t be able to do that now.
What was meant to last only 10 years her gift shop lasted 21, and along with some health issues Kluke pointed out it was time to retire and hang her business hat up.
“It’s just been fabulous. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I have no regrets. None whatsoever. Everything I’ve done is because I wanted to do it and I’ve loved every bit of it. And if I was younger, I would do it again,” said Kluke.
