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Around Town: A Small Town's Salute to America

Around Town: A Small Town's Salute to America

Four miles south of the thriving town of Rice Lake is the small town of Cameron, population 1,783.

Like every other small town America, a number of local shop owners have been in business for decades while others come and go. But Cameron is different in ways that places this town in a spot by themselves; niche markets.

When the big box stores moved into Rice Lake, only four miles away and changing forever the footprint of the town, many small businesses closed their shops, bowing to the will of the buying public for cheaper bulk products; sadly both cheaper in price and cheaper in quality.

Cameron faced the same challenges, but met them in creative ways.

Take Brion’s Smokehouse Deli. Not too long ago the deli was a small town grocery store losing the battle against both Walmart and Aldi’s for their share of the dollar. The deli at the grocery store always did well, so instead of boarding up the windows and hanging out the closed sign, the space became a Subway-like shop with rows of sandwich fixing options for both breakfast sandwiches and lunch, homemade soup, pastries and salads. Naturally they kept the popular deli that features not only cold cuts and cheese, but beautiful cuts of fresh meat, ready to be wrapped and sold. They even have friendly hours; from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm. They are closed Sundays.

It’s hard to believe, but this town features three furniture stores, fondly called Furniture Row. They are all one family, the Gilles’. 

“Around Town” is brought to you by ICAA Washburn County Connections Store & More


If you’re thinking Bush and Gilles, you would be right. When brothers, Kevin and Brian Gillis each married, they each developed a furniture store; each meaning each brother and eventually each sister-in-law.

Kevin runs the store in Spooner; his brother operates one in Cameron, where you can even purchase scooters as well as furniture, and Brian’s wife runs her own store across the street that has a history of adaptation.

Years ago, Gene Gilles and Charlie Bush were in business together selling shoes. Charlie wanted to expand to selling furniture, but Gene was happy with just shoes.

They parted company amicably, Charlie kept the Bush and Gilles name and furniture became the family’s focus.

After twenty-four years selling  Budget Barn furniture, Brian’s wife, Kathi, was tired of competing with the big box stores only miles away and the store really needed to be refurbished, and she made a major decision renaming it American Pride Furniture and Gifts, carrying only items that are made in American, or Wisconsin or locally.

Now, as buyers peruse the store, they have choices of pub and dining room tables and chairs made in Unity, or upholstered pieces made in Marshfield or coffee, TV and end tables from Kaukauna. Even the mattresses come from Janesville and New Berlin. The Amish have their authentic barn-board items displayed as well as their finely crafted kitchen cabinets and counters that can be custom made to fit anyone’s needs.

Amish craftsmen even make the colorful Adirondack chairs outside the shop using fade resistant and winter-hearty materials guaranteed to fade only three percent over a ten year period because the color runs all the way through the product.

American Pride is where you can custom order just about anything they carry.

Their dining room furniture comes in either oak or maple with a choice of thirteen different finishes and their chairs, pillows and sofa’s come with design options such as lots of fabric colors and designs, and even choices of the style of the legs.

If you’re looking for local honey, maple syrup, soap or signs, these are all available as well as pieces you won’t see anywhere else, like a clever laminated box with draws for treasures.

Down the block is the last in the Furniture Row with sister-in-law Wendy’s Sticks and Stones shop. Here you’ll find everything you didn’t know you needed for your cabin or your own Up North room until you see her clever collections.

Everything in this shop is geared for the cabin feeling, dressers, living room furniture, lamps, they’ve got it all.

There is log furniture in abundance for every room, including log ‘fireplaces’ that can be run with the heat on for warmth, or heat off for just ambiance. 

Here’s the shop for outstanding art pieces for your walls, and if you’re looking for clever drawer handles you won’t find anywhere else, this is the place to find them.

When you’re finished shopping and eating, you can stop in at Gayle’s Barbershop and get your kid’s haircut or get something from the past for the gentlemen in your party; crew cuts, butch cuts and pompadours!

There is a lot to see and do in the town, just pick up a free copy of the Cameron Chronicle at any store and see the town at a glance. Take a little road trip and see what clever people can do when they put their minds to it.

Last Update: Jul 07, 2017 4:22 pm CDT

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