Craig Daily Press

Craig — A steady stream of cars flow in and out of the drive-up window cut into the side of Stockmen’s Liquor store.

It’s a sight that’s been seen for more than 30 years in Craig.

And, in that time, only two things have changed about Stockmen’s:

The ownership and the sign.

Five years ago, Lennie and Lori Gillam, a then 20-something couple bought the store, And a short time later, 100-mph winds forced the Gillam’s to replace the sign on the roof, spawning the idea of a new logo.

But, inside the view is much the same.

Shelves upon shelves are stocked with an assortment of beverage options and the two, now 30-something Craig residents, dwell in the back surrounded by cases of beer.

Neither graduated college — Lennie never went — but proud is an understatement when describing how they feel about their foray into the business world.

“It’s helped us grow up,” Lori said. “It’s helped us realize our potential, and it’s taught us a lot. We feel like a bigger part of the community now.”

Becoming business owners “wasn’t easy,” Lennie said.

Lennie’s father died in March 2002.

The original plan to purchase the store was put on hold for a while; the Gillams eventually took over in July.

“It was a tough time for us back then,” Lori said. “We had a lot of family stuff to deal with.”

The couple said there are difficulties that come along with owning the business, but the benefits outweigh the detractions.

“It’s a tough business,” he said. “Anybody who’s ever been in retail will tell you that.”

“And there’s no money in it,” Lori said laughing. “But, we love it.”

Lori graduated from Hayden High School in 1993. Lennie is a 1992 Moffat County High School graduate.

“My ex-step dad used to baby sit him,” Lori said. “That’s how we met.”

Before they were married, they knew what they wanted in life.

“We wanted to be our own boss,” Lennie said. “We always talked about owning our own business. It was just a matter of time.”

Lori worked as a dispatcher for the State Patrol, while Lennie was — and still is — a “courthouse maintenance technician.”

From being on the side of the law, the Gillam’s are now on the side of a counter top, surrounded by liquor.

“My job was so stressful before,” Lori said. “Now, all I have that is stressful is filling out the employee schedule.”

Lennie admits running the business has been an eye-opening experience.

From making sure every customer has identification, to ensuring the beer room in the back is fully stocked.

“This is where our money is,” Lennie says as he points to his surroundings of cases upon cases of beer stacked in the back room. “Everything is in and out. It goes back and forth. You have to watch what you do. You have to watch every dollar you spend. It’s all a cycle.”

The endless cycle of inventory will change, but according to the Gillam’s, nothing else about the store will.

“People know the store,” Lennie said. “We have people that are still coming in who go ‘Man, I’ve been shopping here for over 30 years. My dad used to shop at this store.’”

They know their store and they know the customers that walk through the door and drive up to the “hole in the wall over there.”

“We see the regulars all the time, and we know what they want,” Lori said. “We have their stuff ready for them when they walk in the door.”

They’ve only been at “this business thing” for a few years, and said they don’t plan on quitting it anytime soon.

“It would be really hard to walk away,” Lori said. “We really enjoy having a mom and pop store in town.”

As for those who think owning and operating a business at a young age is out of reach:

“As long as you know what you want to do,” Lennie said, “there are people out there who will help you along the way.

“It’s been a long road, but we’re proud to be doing something with our lives.”